REACH - the new EU chemicals policy

The new European Chemicals regulation (REACH) was adopted in December 2006. REACH stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals.  REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 and Directive 2006/121/EC amending Directive 67/548/EEC were published in the Official Journal on 30 December 2006. REACH has entered into force on 1 June 2007.

The new Regulation aims to improve the protection of human health and the environment while maintaining competitiveness, and enhancing the innovative capability of the EU chemicals industry. REACH will furthermore give greater responsibility to industry to manage the risks from chemicals and to provide safety information that will be passed down the supply chain.

REACH will require the manufacturers and importers of chemicals to generate data for all chemicals substances produced or imported into the EU above one tonne per year. The registrants must also identify appropriate risk management measures and communicate them to the users.

As part of the new policy, a new European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has been established in Helsinki, Finland. More than 400 officials from around the EU will be based at the Agency's headquarters.

The Agency will manage chemicals databases, deal with registration procedures and evaluate registration dossiers and coordinate substance evaluation carried by Member State Competent Authorities, administer authorisation and restriction processes, draft recommendations for reducing the risks associated with chemicals, and provide guidance for manufacturers, importers and public authorities.

Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) and National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira) have been nominated as Competent Authorities concerning the implementation of REACH.

For more information:

Senoir Adviser Heikki Salonen, Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE), firstname.surname@ymparisto.fi