Marking the 10th anniversary of the implementation of the European Union’s (EU’s) REACH Regulation, the EU Commission has published a report highlighting the EU’s progress in reducing chemical risks and laying out future areas for proposed actions.
Background:The EU’s Regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) came into force in 2007, replacing the EU’s legislative framework for chemicals dating back to the late 1960s. Importantly, REACH shifted to industry the burden of compliance with safety regulations related to chemicals. Under REACH, pre-registration of regulated substances began in 2008, and the final deadline for companies to register all chemicals manufactured, imported or placed on the EU market above one ton per year is May 31st of this year.
The new report:Published in early March, the report, “Commission General Report on the operation of REACH and review of certain elements,” is the second Commission report on the operation of REACH. The evaluation has been carried out as part of the programme for Regulatory Fitness and Performance (REFIT). While the report admits that progress towards the objectives is lagging behind initial expectations, it also finds steady improvement as experience was gained. The report details a number of what it calls “concrete” results to residents of the EU, including safer products for consumers, workers and the environment, and an increase in the use of non-animal-based testing methods.
The report also proposes a number of areas under the current REACH scheme that the Commission plans to target for improvement in the future. These include improving the quality of chemical registration dossiers, simplifying the overall chemical authorisation process, levelling the playing field between EU and non-EU companies, and enhanced enforcement efforts by national authorities.
This report also includes three reviews: one on possible registration of polymers and two on minimum information requirements for low tonnage substances (1-10 tonnes/year).
For more information, please consult the
complete text of the report by the EU Commission on the operation of REACH.
Related information
European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) Second Commission report on the operation of REACH
Related EVISA information
Brief summary: Legislation related to Speciation Brief summary: REACH: Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals 
Related EVISA News January 17, 2018: ECHA has added three cadmium compounts of very high concern (SVHCs) to the REACH candidate list March 26, 2016: ECHA: New Approach on Hazard Assessment for Nanoforms March 10, 2016: European Commission consults on chemicals legislation outside REACH February 4, 2013: ECHA requests comments on expanding REACH restriction on the use of cadmium in plastics
June
19, 2011: Committee for Socio-economic Analysis agrees on two draft
opinions on restriction proposals for mercury compounds under REACH June 7, 2011: European Commission announces ban on cadmium in plastics December 1, 2010: ECHA reports the final REACH registration numbers - Nearly 25,000 dossiers November 14, 2010: Registrations pick up as REACH deadline looms September 25, 2010: The European Chemical Agency (ECHA) calls for
comments on reports proposing restrictions on mercury and phenylmercury March 10: 2010: ECHA suggests further chemicals for SVHC list November 13, 2008: REACH pre-registration deadline expires soon September 18, 2008: REACH Update: List of 300 chemicals of very high concern June 3, 2008: European Chemicals Agency opens in Helsinki June 1, 2007: REACH enters into force October 10, 2006: Parties unite on EU chemicals safety law (REACH)
December 14, 2005: REACH: A further step towards final approval
July 1, 2005: European chemicals legislation REACH must be consumer-friendlylast time modified: September 22, 2024
