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REACH IN BRIEF

SGS recognizes the complexity of the REACH regulation and offers pragmatic solutions enabling all organizations impacted by REACH to concentrate on the immediate priorities and proceed step-by-step with the implementation of their compliance strategy.

WHAT IS REACH?

  • REACH replaces 40 existing EU Chemical Regulations and Directives
  • It aims at ensuring a high level of protection of health and the environment and at giving industrials, EU manufacturers and importers a sense of responsibility
  • Most industries are affected by REACH (toy, textile, electrical, cosmetic…)
  • Industries will have to improve the communication through its supply chain; suppliers will have to provide information on substances; information about safety to be communicated to the downstream users and distributors
  • It recommends a single system to regulate chemicals of 1 tonne or more on the European market (priorities on high volumes and substances of very high concern SVHC)
  • Data base of registered substances managed by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA, 27 Member States) located in Helsinki, Finland
  • Around 30 000 substances will be registered
  • 500 substances are classified as CMR (Carcinogens, Mutagens, Reprotoxic) with 140 priority substances

WHAT TO DO TO ACHIEVE REACH?

1. Inventory: Start today with analysing your portfolio of chemicals!

  • What substances are in articles?
  • Have they already been registered for that use?
  • Are they intentionally released?
  • Are they substances of high concern contained?
  • What concentration are they contained at?
  • What is the total amount of the substances in your articles?

2. Check the scope of obligations

  • Check if you should register the substances in articles?
  • Check if you should notify the substances in articles?

3. Identify your role and tasks under REACH

  • Know when tasks will have to be fulfilled
  • Estimate cost impact
  • Provide information to recipients where appropriate (SDS management)