REACH - greater responsibility for businesses
The new EU chemicals regulation for Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals (REACH) came into force on June 1, 2007. REACH is designed to improve the protection of human health and the environment, and to maintain and enhance the competitiveness of the EU chemical industry. The new regulation establishes European-wide uniform legal standards and replaces the former existing substances evaluation and notification of new chemical substances.
REACH applies to all EU companies manufacturing, importing or using chemicals, who will have to assume even greater responsibility in future for the safe handling and use of these substances.
This raises some fundamental issues for the companies concerned:
- How will REACH affect my business?
- What legal deadlines do I have to meet?
- What information and data do I have to provide? How much of it already exists and what additional information and data are required?
- What costs will I be facing and how can I keep them to a minimum?
- When do I have to contact my customers or/and suppliers about REACH and regarding which topics?
