REACH stands for registration, evaluation and authorisation of chemicals. It puts the burden on proof on any undertaking to show that all of the chemicals in use in such undertaking are safe. It is also meant to encourage the replacement of hazardous chemicals with safer ones and to spur the chemicals sector into researching and developing more new products. The new EU regulation is expected to come into force in mid-2007.

REACH affects first of all manufacturers and importers of chemical substances who are obliged to register substances which are handled, stored, used or consumed in quantities of more than one tonne per year. In additional, an authorisation is required for substances of high concern. Finally, downstream users will have to make sure that their use of the chemicals bought will be part of the registration in order to be in compliance with the new requirements. For existing substances of high volume or high concern a pre-registration has to be submitted already within 18 months after the new legislation has come into force. If the undertakings fail to register, they are not allowed to manufacture or import such substances until the process of registration, evaluation and authorisation is completed.  This means that many of our clients will be affected by REACH in a very short time. In light of the complexity of the registration process, some of them have already started their peparation work.