In 1998 European Governments decided that the EU chemicals regulatory system needed reform. A long process of analysis and discussion resulted in a proposal for a new system, called REACH - Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals.
REACH is the first regulatory system for chemicals that removes the distinction between older ('existing') chemicals and 'new' ones. It also includes new mechanisms for identifying appropriate risk management measures for controlling chemical use and requirements for communicating information on chemical properties, and safe uses up and down the supply chain.
The REACH regulation came into force in June 2007 paving the way for setting up the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) in Helsinki Finland. The ECHA is a key organization that manages the REACH process and coordinates the activities of the Member States who have had to appoint competent authorities to provide information, assist in the administration, and enforce the provisions of the regulation.
The new system has had an impact on many goods and commodities imported into the EU. US exporters currently export some $186 billion in goods to the EU. For more on US exports, see this report on state exports to the European Union by sector, or visit the US Department of Commerce database of exports.
What is REACH?
REACH is designed to be an integrated approach to the control of the production, import and use of chemicals in Europe. It creates a system which is based on information about chemicals, and which ensures that useful safety information gets to those using chemicals. The REACH system is complex, as are the network of 40 or so regulations that it is replacing.
Crucially, REACH places the main responsibility for chemical safety clearly on the chemical producer or importer (into the EU), not on public authorities or downstream users.
REACH can be thought of as fulfilling two key roles:
- It describes the phased process to overcome the lack of data on existing chemicals (sometimes referred to as the ‘burden of the past’) - including a series of deadlines, based on tonnage, for registering information on existing chemicals. This should mean that information on all existing substances manufactured in, or imported into, the EU in tonnages of 1 tonne or more per year should be available within 11 years of REACH entering into force.
- It lays out the regulatory system for the management of chemicals in the EU. For example, information requirements for all ‘new’ substances, the system for the control of substances of very high concern, and the information that should pass both up and down the supply chain.
Restriction
Chemicals whose use poses “unacceptable risks” to human health or the environment and need to be managed on an EU-wide basis may have production or specific uses legally restricted through this process.
Authorization
In the framework of the authorization process, Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) are identified in accordance with REACH. Substances listed in Annex XIV will fall under the authorization process, which means that manufacturers or importers of those substances will have to apply for authorization if they would like to continue their businesses with these chemicals.
Evaluation
Dossier Evaluation
ECHA carries out the evaluation of registration dossiers submitted by companies. Each year by 28 February ECHA will publish a report describing the progress it has made with these dossiers submitted during the previous calendar year.
Substance Evaluation
ECHA is in charge to prepare the first community action rolling plan by 1 December 2011. This action rolling plan will list the substances subject to evaluation. Member State Competent Authorities and ECHA will be in charge to comply with this task.
Agency
A new European Chemicals Agency has started its work. This agency coordinates much of the regulatory work in REACH, though EU Member States still have considerable responsibility. The Agency also has primary responsibility for the evaluation process.
Globally Harmonised System for Classification and Labeling (GHS)
GHS creates a new inventory of classification and labeling of chemicals; industry must submit the classification and labeling of all substances which are subject to registration under REACH or placed on the EU market to a central, public database. See our GHS page for more details.
Information Flow
Much, though not all, of the information generated by REACH will be publicly available, including the main database of substances and properties and the classification and labeling database.
More Detailed Information on REACH
- See CSPI reports and briefings on REACH.
- See the REACH section of our Archives.
- See also the Latest News on REACH.
- Read the REACH text itself
- See the European Commission's DG Environment and the DG Enterprise.
- ECHA provides useful information and guidance (including the Navigator tool and the outcome of the REACH Technical Guidance Documents.
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