ECHA, chemical agency of the European Union, has urged all companies to start preparing now for the REACH registration deadline of 31 May 2018. To support this, ECHA has published new web pages with improved access to relevant information. This registration deadline concerns substances manufactured or imported in low volumes, 1 to 100 tonnes per year.
REACH is the Regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals. It entered into force on 1st June 2007. It streamlines and improves the former legislative framework on chemicals of the European Union (EU).
The main aims of REACH are to ensure a high level of protection of human health and the environment from the risks that can be posed by chemicals, the promotion of alternative test methods, the free circulation of substances on the internal market and enhancing competitiveness and innovation.
REACH makes industry responsible for assessing and managing the risks posed by chemicals and providing appropriate safety information to their users. In parallel, the European Union can take additional measures on highly dangerous substances, where there is a need for complementing action at EU level.
ECHA has consulted its stakeholders over the past months to enable the Agency to offer the best possible support for companies preparing for the last registration deadline of phase-in substances. As a first action, ECHA has launched a set of new web pages related to REACH 2018, which outline the phases leading to a successful registration.