REACH is the Regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals.
It entered into force on 1 June 2007 to streamline and improve the former legislative framework for chemicals within the European Union (EU). REACH places greater responsibility on industry to manage the risks that chemicals may pose to human health and the environment.
In principle, REACH applies to all chemicals, not only those used in industrial processes but also those encountered in everyday life, such as cleaning products, paints, clothing, furniture, and electrical appliances.
The aims of REACH are to:
- Improve the protection of human health and the environment from risks posed by chemicals.
- Enhance the competitiveness of the EU chemicals industry, an important sector of the European economy.
- Promote alternative methods for assessing the hazards of substances.
- Ensure the free movement of substances within the European Union internal market.
REACH replaced approximately 40 separate pieces of legislation with a single, streamlined regulation. Other legislation governing chemicals (for example cosmetics and detergents) and related legislation (such as worker health and safety, product safety, and construction products) continue to apply. REACH has been designed to complement, rather than overlap with, other chemical legislation.
For more information about REACH, please visit www.echa.europa.eu.
If you require information regarding REACH and BRB products, please contact us at REACH@brbbv.com.