Manufacture and use of chemicals
Any company that manufactures, imports, sells or uses chemical substances will need to comply with REACH, the Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals.
REACH requires manufacturers and importers to register substances with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). REACH applies to substances manufactured or imported into the EU in quantities of 1 tonne per year or more. Key frequently asked questions are available here.
A brief summary guide is available on the Defra website.
The key dates for implementation of REACH are:
| Key Date |
Issue
|
1 June 2007 |
REACH came into force |
1 June 2008 |
European chemicals agency will become operational |
1 June 2008 – 30 November 2008 |
Pre-registration period |
Some chemicals are exempt from REACH, as they are controlled by other legislation. This includes pest control substances, radioactive substances and waste. Also other substances that are considered to cause a minimum risk are also excluded. A full list of exemptions can be found in annex five of the regulations. The exemptions will be reviewed in 2009 and may change.
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