REACH is a European Union regulation issued to improve the protection of human health and the environment from the risks posed by chemicals.
To comply with the Regulation, companies must identify and manage the risks associated with the substances they manufacture and place on the market in the EU. Companies must demonstrate to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) how the substance can be used safely and must communicate risk management measures to users. In addition to the registration by industry, procedures are carried out by the authorities to evaluate the substances. Restriction and authorisation procedures allow authorities to restrict or authorise the use of dangerous substances. For substances posing an unreasonable risk to human health or the environment, REACH provides the possibility to restrict manufacture, placing on the market and use. Restrictions and, if necessary, bans can be imposed. In the long term, the most dangerous substances should be replaced by less dangerous ones.
REACH affects many companies. In general, under REACH companies have different roles. They can be manufacturers, importers or downstream users. Companies have different obligations depending on their role in the supply chain.
Different obligations also result from whether a chemical or an article is concerned. An article is an object that is given a specific shape, surface or design during manufacture that determines its function to a greater extent than its chemical composition.
Any manufacturer or importer of an article, distributor or other actor in the supply chain who places an article on the market must comply with the information requirements of Article 33 of REACH. This information obligation applies to articles containing more than 0.1% of substances of very high concern (SVHC). The inclusion of new SVHC in the candidate list usually takes place twice a year, mostly in June and December, and is published on the ECHA website.
Any supplier whose article meets these criteria must provide the industrial or professional user or distributor to whom the article is supplied with sufficient information - at least the name of the substance - to ensure safe use of the article.
Note: This information has been researched and compiled with the greatest care. However, we cannot guarantee that the information provided is correct, up-to-date or complete. In particular, no legal claims arising from the use of this information can be justified.
as of: 10.12.2019
