What is REACH?

REACH is  the acronym for the new European Union regulation covering the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of CHemicals. It came into force in the European Union (EU) on 1st June 2007 replacing a about 40 different European Directives and Regulations with a single system.

Aims

The stated aims of REACH are as follows:

	Improve the protection of human health and the environment from the risks that can be posed by chemicals
	Enhance the competitiveness of the EU chemicals industry, a key sector for the economy of the EU
	Promote alternative methods for the assessment of hazards of substances
	Ensure the free circulation of substances on the internal market of the European Union

No data, no market

The fundamental principle upon which REACH is based on is “No data, no market”

Under REACH, there is a requirement for manufacturers or importers of substances to register them with a central European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) A registration package will be supported by a standard set of data on that substance. The amount of data required is proportionate to the amount of substance manufactured or supplied.

If you do not register your substances, then the data on them will not be available and as a result, you will no longer be able to manufacture or supply them legally, i.e. no data, no market!