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REACH+ Obligations…
REACH & Enviroment
REACH has been developed in a climate of increasing concern about the dangers of chemicals to people and the environment. There is political agreement that the only way to achieve better protection is by the introduction of new laws which will force importers and manufacturers to evaluate the dangers of their products under all use conditions. The downside of this strategy, a reduced range of chemicals on the market and an increase in the cost of dealing with chemicals, is regarded by governments as an acceptable price to pay for better protection.
REACH is the acronym for the EU legislation which carried this approach into law. It came into force on 1st June 2007 although its more detailed requirements will be progressively introduced. It will launch a regime of close control over the importation, manufacture, distribution and use of chemicals. All chemicals will require registration by their EU manufacturer or importer with a central agency. The risks during the use of these chemicals will have to be evaluated and appropriate control measures identified by the manufacturer or importer. Chemicals of high concern will be subject to formal authorisation before they can be used.
The aim of the new legislation is to shift the responsibility for the protection of people and the environment towards those who manufacture and import in the EU. In order to moderate the burden of the new law it will be introduced over several years using a prioritisation approach.