REACH REGULATIONS
What Is Reach?
After 3 years of consultation a comprehensive reform of manufacturing, marketing, import and the use of chemicals has finally been agreed with European Parliament and came into force 1st June 2007. REACH stands for Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals, a further stage of REACH is Restriction. It will require 30,000 existing chemical substances and all future new substances that are manufactured or imported in amounts of more than 1 tonne per year to be registered with a central agency over a period of 3, 6 or 11 years, depending on the substance.What Is The Reason For Reach?
The idea behind these new regulations is to ensure a high degree of protection for health and the environment. It transfers the responsibility for the safety of chemicals to the chemical industry.The registration process will identify hazardous substances and allow appropriate risk management measures to be put in place to ensure the chemicals are safe to use and handle. The authorisation system will strongly encourage companies such as ourselves to switch to safer alternatives.
Will Reach Ban Products?
The system will definitely enable a more rapid total or partial ban where chemicals cause an unacceptable risk. In addition, measures are foreseen to ensure that animal testing is kept to a strict minimum and to encourage alternative testing methods.What Is The Main Advantage Of Reach?
It will allow a comprehensive flow of information throughout the industry about the risk of substances, which will in turn filter down to the consumer.The new system will also simplify E.U. legislation on chemicals by replacing 40 existing pieces of legislation and create a single system for all chemicals.
As Manufacturers Of Chemical Substances, What Will Happen Next?
The chemical substance has to be pre-registered by the manufacturer or importer.The pre-registration phase opened 1st June 2008 and should be completed online via a database created and managed by the European Chemicals Bureau
Pre-registration must be completed by the 30th November 2008.
What Is The Difference Between A Substance And A Preparation?
A substance is often reffered to as a raw material and a preparation is the actual finished product, in our case a cleaning or hygiene chemical.Do You Have To Register The Substance And Preparation
It is only necessary to register the substance.What is A Downstream User?
A Downstream User (D.U.) is a company which uses chemical substances, often referred to as raw materials, and blends a selection to formulate a product, for example in our case a cleaning or hygiene chemical.Evans Vanodine is both a manufacturer of chemical substances and also a Downstream User.
As A Downstream User (D.U.) What are Our Obligations?
As a D.U. we must continue to comply with the safety precautions as detailed in the safety data sheet supplied by the producer of the chemical substances. We must also advise the supplier of the purpose for which we intend to use the chemical substance, so it can be included in their dossier registration.As A Distributor Or User Of Our Products, What Do You Have To Do?
Nothing, apart from ensuring the product is being used for its intended purpose.How We See It
There are obvious benefits for health and the environment. We firmly believe it will improve customer confidence in the choice and use of chemicals and also incentivise manufacturers to innovate by encouraging the substitution of dangerous chemicals for safer alternatives.There are obvious cost implications but overall we support the REACH regulations, as the implementation is part of our ongoing strategy towards responsible care and the protection of the Environment.
