REACH is an acronym of Registration, Evaluation, Authorization of Chemicals.
Registration - Each substance submitted for sale in the European Union in a quantity over 1 tonne must be registered in the European Chemicals Agency. The size of registration documentation required depends on annual turnover volumes.
Evaluation - Substances submitted for trade and raising any doubts will be subject to risk evaluation. Apart from substances, registration documents (dossier) furnished to the Agency and containing information regarding all proposed surveys and tests for a given substance are also subject to evaluation.
Authorization - Trade or use of some substances will require a permit granted by the European Commission. The following substances are subject to this procedure:
Limitations in production, trade and use - certain substances perilous in its own form, as preparation components or in products, in relation to which limitations has been determined, cannot be produced, traded or used unless conditions of such limitation are met.
On June 01st, 2007 Regulation (EU) No. 1907/2006 establishing REACH, intended for high quality of environmental and human health protection and for other economic and social purposes entered into force. The REACH regulation is a new regulation raising many doubts and most of all introducing crucial consequences for the chemical industry. In the Ciech Chemical Group companies as well as in Ciech SA, legislative development of this regulation has been long overseen. Presently, preparations are successively handled for initial registration of produced and imported substances.
Thanks to this we will obtain the right to make use of the so-called transitional period. In the Group, dissemination of knowledge regarding new responsibilities resulting from REACH is taking place. Moreover, the analysis of the effects of REACH implementation has been made in the companies, and it will account for the basis for further measures aimed at meeting new requirements for the chemical industry.