REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals)

• REACH is an abbreviation for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals.
• It came into existence on June first, 2007.
• REACH is a regulatory authority of the European Union.
• The purpose of REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) is to ensure the safety of health and the environment from the potential risks that can be caused by chemicals.
• REACH applies to all chemical substances used in industrial processes as well as in products used in our daily life.

The companies must know & control the potential risks from the chemicals they manufacture & sell in the European Union. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has to be notified by the concerned companies how the particular chemical can be safely used, and the users also must be told the ways to manage the risks associated with the concerned chemicals. The REACH authorities can ban the use of these chemicals if the risks can’t be managed.

A chemical manufacturer located in European Union as well as an importer buying from outside has to follow the rules & regulations specified under REACH. A company located outside the European Union has no obligation what so ever even if he export his products to the European Union. The responsibility of registration lies with the importers of the chemical who are importing it in the European Union.