REACH registration and classification: a step nearer to safer use of chemicals in the EU
The 3rd of January 2011 marks a major step towards the safe management and use of chemicals throughout Europe. More than three million notifications on the classification of chemical substances in line with new EU rules have been received by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). All companies manufacturing or importing hazardous substances were required to classify them by 1 December 2010 and notify ECHA by 3 January 2011. Classification is essential to determine whether a chemical is dangerous for health and the environment, and will determine the information on the labels of chemicals that workers and consumers use. The new rules are laid down in the EU Regulation on Classification, Labelling and Packaging of chemicals (CLP) which aligns the EU classification system to the UN Globally Harmonised System, ensuring that the same hazards are described and labelled in the same way all around the world. The data will enable ECHA to establish the first European inventory of hazardous substances and harmonised classifications.
On 30 November 2010 a large proportion of the total volume of chemicals produced and used in the EU, as well as the most dangerous chemicals, were registered at ECHA. The deadline for registration of widely-used chemicals was set by REACH, the Regulation for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals. As a result of REACH, European industry will possess more in-depth knowledge of the potentially hazardous effects of the chemicals they are dealing with. This will lead to safer use of chemicals, increased industrial competitiveness and a cleaner environment. Under the REACH system companies cannot place a chemical substance they manufacture or import on the EU market unless it has been registered with ECHA within the applicable deadline.
Vice President Tajani said: "We are pleased that industry has worked alongside us to make REACH such a success. REACH is an excellent example of our flagship initiative on integrated industrial policy under the Europe 2020 strategy which places competitiveness and sustainable development at the forefront."
The REACH regulation obliges companies to inform on how they manage risks that chemicals can pose to human health and the environment. This is the registration process.
The chemicals that were registered by 30 November 2010 were assessed in terms of volume and risk. This deadline applied to:
- General case: substances produced or imported in volumes of 1000 tonnes per year or more.
- For substances that are carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction: if produced or imported in volumes of 1 tonne per year or more.
- For substances that are very toxic to the aquatic environment: if produced or imported in volumes of 100 tonnes per year or more.
Both importers and producers of chemicals need to register. This also concerns companies outside of the chemicals sector.
For other substances, the deadlines for registration are 2013 and 2018.
REACH also foresees an authorisation system to assure that the risks from substances of very high concern are properly controlled and that suitable alternative substances will progressively replace them, where these are economically and technically viable. If not, authorisations for substances may be granted if the benefits outweigh health and environmental risks, or if exposure levels are below a safe threshold and risks are well controlled.
Vice President Antonio Tajani and Janez Potoçnik discussing with Geert Dancet, Director of ECHA
More information on classification at:
- http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/chemicals/classification/index_en.htm
- Press release IP/10/1113
REACH has been a priority for Vice-President Tajani and Commissioner Potočnik since they took up their mandate early 2010. They visited ECHA soon after this and lifted obstacles that had blocked the correct functioning of the authorisation process. They also agreed on a roadmap for identification of substances of very high concern and agreed on criteria to identify substances that are persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic, or very persistent and very bioaccumulative.
Help: Companies and especially SMEs are supported by helpdesks dedicated to REACH and CLP. These helpdesks operate at ECHA and in all Member States. You will find guidance and information on how to contact them at http://guidance.echa.europa.eu/registration_en.htm
