Chemicals
EU chemicals policy - REACH
Introduction
Around 100,000 different substances are registered in the EU, of which around 30,000 are manufactured or imported in quantities above 1 tonne. Adequate data on the environmental and health effects is available for only a small proportion of these chemicals.
The existing regulatory system inherent in current EU policy for dealing with the majority of these chemicals - known as "existing" substances - has been in place since 1993 and has prioritised 140 chemicals of high concern. Although a programme of work has been drawn up, progress on regulatory action has been slow.
In response to this, the European Commission published a white paper outlining ideas on the future chemicals strategy in February 2001. The white paper proposed a single system to gather hazard information, assess risks, classify, label, and restrict the marketing and use of individual chemicals and mixtures. This is known as the REACH system:
Registration of basic information of substances to be submitted by companies, in a central database.
Evaluation of the registered information to determine hazards and risks.
Authorisation requirements imposed on the use of high-concern substances. This process will be used for both new and old...
CHemicals.
REACH covers both "new" and "existing" substances. All chemicals produced or imported into the EU in quantities above 1 tonne per year will be registered in a central database. Chemicals deemed to be of most concern will need an authorisation. This will require industry to gain specific permission for particular uses which have been demonstrated to be safe. Other uses will be prohibited.
REACH entered into force on 1 June 2007. The pre-registration period for eligible chemicals is 1 June – 1 December 2008, and chemicals that are pre-registered benefit from phased registration deadlines up to June 2018
The new regime also creates a European Chemicals Agency and amend currents legislation. The Existing Substances (Regulation 793/93/EEC) will continue alongside REACH for one year in order to help facilitate the transition to REACH, and then be replaced from 1 June 2008. Similarly the Marketing and Use Directive (76/769/EEC) will continue for two years until 1 June 2009 and then also be replaced.
The UK national Competent Authority for REACH is the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), and has set up a Helpdesk to provide UK businesses with technical advice and information on the implementation of REACH and how best to prepare for that. The Helpdesk can be contacted by email at ukreachca@hse.gsi.gov.uk or telephone on 0845 408 9575. There is also a website at www.hse.gov.uk/reach containing much more information and advice, as well as links to other useful sites and sources of information.
Latest update
UK Implementation of REACH
1 June 2008: Start of six-month pre-registration period for phase-in substances
See background for earlier documents.
Further information is available on our Help page about downloading or reading PDF documents.
Defra is not responsible for the contents or reliability of the linked web sites and does not necessarily endorse the views expressed within them. Listing should not be taken as endorsement of any kind. We cannot guarantee that these links will work all of the time and we have no control over the availability of the linked pages.
Page last modified: 4 June 2008
Page published: 4 December 2002