“REGULATION (EC) No. 1907/2006 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of December 18th, 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), establishing an European Chemicals Agency, amending Directive 1999/45/EC and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No. 793/93 and Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1488/94 as well as Council Directive 76/769/EEC and Commission Directives 91/155/EEC, 93/67/EEC, 93/105/EC and 2000/21/EC.”
- REACH
- What is REACH?
- Substances that require registration
- Safety data sheets
- REACH - a short summary
- For more information about REACH please refer to:
What is REACH?
On June 1st, 2007, the new Chemical Regulation of the European Union “Regulation (EEC) No. 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH)” came into effect. The so-called REACH regulation will radically change the European chemical law. It is valid in all countries of the European Union and regulates the implementation, production and application of all chemicals. It protects human health and the environment. The regulation is based on the principle of a stronger responsibility of the industry for a safe handling of their substances. This means that the manufacturers and importers have to analyze the risks of the substances that they have manufactured or placed on the market and suggest measures for a safe handling.
Each enterprise within the EU from each sector of the economy, therefore the non-ferrous metal industry too, is concerned by the REACH regulation.
The system of REACH includes the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Limitation of substances. Metals and their compounds are substances in the sense of the REACH-regulation and thus have to be registered.
For all industries, REACH may bring an intensive amount of work, but it holds the chances for the development of new, innovative products.
Substances that require registration
As of October 28th, 2008, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has published the first candidate list of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) to be included in Annex XIV of the REACH regulation on the website:
http://echa.europa.eu/chem_data/candidate_list_table_en.asp
- The following substances are included in the candidate list:
- Anthracene
- 4,4'-Diaminodiphenylmethane
- Dibutyl phthalate
- Cobalt dichloride
- Diarsenic pentaoxide
- Diarsenic trioxide
- Sodium dichromate
- 5-tert-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene (musk xylene)
- Bis (2-ethyl(hexyl)phthalate) (DEHP)
- Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) and all major diastereoisomers identified: Alpha
- HBCDD, Beta-HBCDD, Gamma-HBCDDAlkanes, C10-13, chloro (Short Chain Chlorinated Paraffins)
- Bis(tributyltin)oxide
- Lead hydrogen arsenate
- Triethyl arsenate
- Benzyl butyl phthalate
Our products do not contain substances mentioned in the candidate list!
Safety data sheets
Since the REACH regulation 1907/2006 became effective on June 1st, 2007, the commission directive 91/155/EEC (information in safety data sheets) was repealed. In comparison to the previous regulation, the contents and the structure of the safety data sheet has been changed in some points. Within the REACH regulation, no transitional deadlines for the regulations of the safety data sheet are mentioned.
Changing existing safety data sheets only because of formally changed guidelines in REACH is not necessary. The existing safety data sheets which are according to the current regulations may be sent furthermore to previous, respectively future customers.
REACH - a short summary
Title of the regulation: “REGULATION (EC) No. 1907/2006 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) […]
Scope: the REACH regulation is valid in all countries of the European Union and regulates the implementation, production and application of all chemicals.
Concerned: each enterprise within the European Union from each ecological sector is concerned by the REACH regulation. REACH affects all manufacturers, importers, traders and users (= downstream users) of chemical substances themselves or in preparations.
In effect since: June 1st, 2007
What does REACH stand for?
R = Registration
E = Evaluation (rating)
A = Authorization (admission) of
CH = (Chemical) substances in Europe
For more information about REACH please refer to:
http://www.reach-info.de/
http://reach.bdi.info/
http://www.reach-helpdesk.info/
http://reach-net.com/
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/reach/reach_intro.htm
http://echa.europa.eu/