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DOES REACH APPLY TO YOU FIND OUT HERE
REACH NEWS 13/06/07
IUCLID5 has now been released by the Commission.
What's IUCLID5? It's the "International Uniform Chemical Information Database version 5" and the European Chemicals Agency expects industry to use it to store and maintain data about chemical substances, and it's the tool for industry to submit REACH registration data to the Agency. Essentially IUCLID 5 forms the information systems backbone of REACH.
It's free to download go to the IUCLID Download website: http://iuclid.eu. You do require to register - it is worth it.
IUCLID 5 is a complex system containing thousands of data entry fields.
REACH 2007 TO 2018 AND BEYOND
REACH is new and as yet not clearly understood however from the information currently available the impact could be very significant it is intended as REACH replaces existing chemical legislation to expand and update this section as assistance to clients and potential clients.
The new European law on chemicals, REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals), entered into force on 1 June 2007. Note the R for Restriction has been omitted from the common name for this new legislation but should not be ignored as some chemicals may in the future be banned for use or restricted to a range of uses.
It is estimated that REACH will cost the EU trillions of Euros and as it is industry's problem industry will be expected to pay &127; obviously the time scales appear long but the workload is potentially huge and so could the costs be &127; therefore planning is need now or when the deadlines occur you may not be able to carry out your process "if your use of a chemical isn't part of the registration, then you can't use it!"
Therefore at least find out now what your suppliers are doing and are going to do!!!
The aim of REACH is to improve the protection of human health and the environment through the better and earlier identification of the properties of chemical substances. At the same time, innovative capability and competitiveness of the EU chemicals industry should be enhanced. The benefits of the REACH system will come gradually, as more and more substances are phased into REACH.
The REACH Regulation gives greater responsibility to industry to manage the risks from chemicals and to provide safety information on the substances. Manufacturers and importers will be required to gather information on the properties of their substances, which will help them manage them safely, and to register the information in a central database. The European Chemicals Agency will act as the central point in the REACH system: it will run the databases necessary to operate the system, co-ordinate the in-depth evaluation of suspicious chemicals and run a public database in which consumers and professionals can find hazard information.
The Regulation also calls for the progressive substitution of the most dangerous chemicals when suitable alternatives have been identified.
REACH, the new EU Chemicals Regulation, entered into force on 1 June 2007. Twelve months later the main REACH procedures start to apply in order to allow the European Chemicals Agency to become fully operational.
To enable a smooth transition from the existing chemicals legislation to REACH, the Commission has developed an interim strategy. The main purpose of this interim strategy is to ensure that all stakeholders, especially industry and public authorities, are adequately prepared for the practical application of the new system by the time REACH enters into force.
Within the interim strategy a number of REACH Implementation Projects (RIPs) have been initiated covering the following tasks:
In order to gain practical experience stakeholders were encouraged to co-operate in trying out aspects of the new system in so-called Strategic Partnerships.
REACH Timings
Major deadlines for the implementation of REACH are primarily centred on substance volumes, with dangerous substances also receiving priority.
Tranche 1: to 2010 (3 years after REACH comes into force): 1000 tonnes. Substances classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction (categories 1&2) above 1 tonne. Substances classified as 'very toxic to aquatic organisms and may cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment' (R50-53) above 100 tonnes
Tranche 2: to 2013 (6 years after REACH comes into force): 100-1000 tonnes. (Parliament proposes to also require the registration of substances classified as 'very toxic to aquatic organisms and may cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment' (R50-53) above 1 tonne)
Tranche 3: to 2018 (11 years after REACH comes into force): 1-100 tonnes
| REACH Timeline: 2008 onwards | |
| Spring Expected time for European Chemicals Agency to become operational | |
| 2008-2010 The first phase of registrations. This will apply to substances supplied at 1,000 tonnes or more, as well as some other priority high-risk substances | |
| By 2013 | The second phase of registrations, to be completed 6 years after REACH comes into force, and will apply to substances supplied at 100 tonnes or more |
| By 2018 | The final phase of registrations for substances supplied at 1 tonne or more |
REACH intends to achieve its goal by requiring business to fully ascertain and make public the risks posed by the use of chemicals. For certain dangerous substances this means that a company will need to define in detail, exactly how to safely use a chemical.
Authorisation
Another of REACH's mechanisms is an authorisation process for substances identified as being of very high concern to human health or the environment. This will mean the hazardous chemical can only be used in ways that are authorised by the REACH authority &127; the European Chemicals Agency. Any authorised substance is also considered a candidate for substitution with "safer" alternatives.
But how will the agency know what chemicals require authorisation? Much is known about certain substances but for many there are information shortfalls, which prevents a suitable risk assessment. That's where the REACH registration process comes in...
REACH Registration
For many firms REACH registration will be the most costly and time-consuming part of compliance. Generally, anyone that makes or imports a chemical into the EU above 1 tonne per year will need to register it with the Agency (there are exemptions to REACH Registration them). Registration involves producing a dossier of information in collaboration with other manufacturers or importers. The obligations for manufacturers and importers of a substance are essentially the same.
And if you buy a chemical from a supplier outside the EU, you are an importer!
Downstream Users
Even if you source your chemicals from within the EU, the chances are you could still be affected. REACH controls the use of chemicals...
Everyone that uses a chemical for example, to make a product, to clean a floor, to lubricate a machine, to print on their packaging (etc.etc. - has to make sure that their particular use of a chemical is listed as a use within dossier.
If this sounds like you, you are a "downstream user" and if your use of a chemical isn't part of the registration, then you can't use it!
List of Relevant Legislation and Links
67/458/EEC Dangerous Substances Directive (DSD), as amended and adapted
1999/45/EC Dangerous Preparations Directive (DPD), as amended
91/155/EC Safety Date Sheet Directive (SDSD), as amended
Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations 2002, as amended
The Export and Import of Dangerous Chemicals Regulations 2005
The Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) (Amendment) Regulations 2005
The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2004
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (Amendment) Regulations 2004
The Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) (Amendment) Regulations 2005
Common Position on REACH http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/06/st07/st07524.en06.pdf
Common Position on the DSD Amendment http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/06/st07/st07525.en06.pdf
Final REACH text and text of DSD Amendment http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/lex/JOHtml.do?uri=OJ:L:2006:396:SOM:EN:HTML
Publications
REACH Flowchart http://ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/background/flowchart_reach.pdf
European Inventory of Existing Commercial Chemical Substances (EINECS) http://ecb.jrc.it/esis/esis.php?PGM=ein
European List of Notified Chemical Substances (ELINCS) http://ecb.jrc.it/Elincs/
EC Enterprise and Industry information on REACH
EC Environment information on REACH http://ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/reach/reach_intro.htm
European Chemicals Agency (ECA)
An agency of the European Union which manages the technical, scientific and administrative aspects of the Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH) system.
European Chemicals Bureau
Web: http://ecb.jrc.it/
The European Chemicals Bureau is the focal point for data and the assessment procedure on dangerous chemicals.
Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
Web: www.hse.gov.uk
The HSE and the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) are responsible for the regulation of almost all the risks to health and safety arising from work activity in the UK.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Web:
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is the main Government department which deals with waste and other environmental issues. It consults on new regulations and provides guidance on legislation and best practice.
Chemical Industries Association
Web: www.cia.org.uk
The Chemical Industries Association (CIA) is the UK's leading trade association for the chemical and chemistry-using industries, representing members both nationally and internationally.
