The REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 is a regulation of the European Union (EU) that stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals. It came into effect on June 1, 2007, and it aims to protect human health and the environment by ensuring that chemicals produced or imported into the EU are managed safely.
The REACH regulation requires companies that manufacture or import chemicals to register them with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and provide information on the properties and potential hazards of the substances. This information is then used to evaluate the risks associated with the use of the chemicals and to make decisions about their safe use.
The regulation also includes provisions for the authorization and restriction of certain hazardous chemicals. Chemicals that are deemed to be particularly hazardous may be subject to authorization, which means that they can only be used if a specific permission is granted. Restrictions can be placed on the use of certain chemicals if they are found to pose an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment.
The REACH regulation also restricts the use of certain chemicals in articles and materials. An “article” is defined as an object that has a specific shape, surface, or design and is made of one or more materials. Under the REACH regulation, if an article contains a substance that is included on the “Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern” (SVHC), and the concentration of the substance in the article is above 0.1% by weight, then this triggers “obligations” that the supplier of the article must comply with.
The obligations may include the supplier having to produce an SDS and identify the SVHC substance, including its name, and safe use instructions. If the article is intended for use by the general public, then the supplier must also provide this information to the public upon request within 30 days.
In addition to the SVHC substances, the REACH regulation also includes restrictions on the use of certain chemicals in articles. For example, the regulation restricts the use of certain phthalates in toys and childcare articles, and the use of certain flame retardants in textiles and electrical and electronic equipment. Presence of restricted substances in articles can trigger a product recall and will most certainly come with hefty fines from the regulator.
Overall, the REACH regulation is an important tool for managing the risks associated with chemical substances in the EU and ensuring the protection of human health and the environment.
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