General Chemicals

General chemicals in Europe are currently regulated via notification procedures according to the Seventh Amendment of the Dangerous Substances Directive (92/32/EEC). The European Commission Technical Guidance document (TGD) includes environmental data requirements, hazard and risk assessment procedures for newly notified substances, (Directive 93/67/EEC), existing substances, Commission Regulation (EC) No 1488/94, and Biocidal Products (Directive 98/8/EC)


REACH

REACH (REGULATION (EC) No 1907/2006 published 30th December 2006) is now underway and comes into force June 1st this year:

The EU regulatory framework for Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of CHemicals (REACH) was adopted 29 October 2003. REACH aims to improve the protection of human health and the environment while maintaining the competitiveness and enhancing the innovative capability of the EU chemicals industry. The European Parliament first reading was finalised on the 17th of November 2005 and the Council reached a political agreement on the 13th of December 2005. The second reading, and the final adoption of the proposal, took place in December in 2006 and the REACH regulation will enter into force in 2007. The European Chemicals Bureau (ECB) has the responsibility of developing methodologies, tools and technical guidance needed for REACH through a number of REACH Implementation Projects (RIPs). The Joint Research Centre (JRC) is developing and implementing a database system for the storage and retrieval of detailed hazard information concerning chemical substances. This is known as IUCLID5 (International Uniform ChemicaLs Information Database) This will not only serve REACH, but also provide a harmonised data format accepted for global use by regulatory authorities and industry. Since IUCLID 5 will be deployed in advance of the formation of the REACH Agency, JRC will undertake the role of 'IUCLID management', to provide a support service to the operation and development of this tool.

Key Timelines:

REACH To be implemented into law in Member States by 1st June 2007

  • Registration of Phase in Substances (Pre-registration) after 1st June 2007
  • Registration of substances very toxic to aquatic organisms and those which may have long term adverse effects on the aquatic environment 3 ½ years after 1st June 2007
  • Registration of chemicals produced in quantities of >1000 Tonnes per annum : 3 ½ years from 1st June 2007
  • Registration of chemicals produced in quantities of >100 Tonnes pa : 6 years from 1st June 2007
  • Registration of chemicals produced in quantities of >1 Tonnes pa : 11 years from 1st June 2007

CEA can assist companies in a variety of ways to comply with REACH legislation including managing your substance through the registration process

CEA has applied to be a service provider under the Chemical Industries Association REACH-Ready programme. For information on how CEA experts can provide support for notifiers under REACH legislation please download the CEA REACH leaflet.