Sean Milmo04.03.07
The European Union's (EU) controversial scheme for the registration, evaluation and authorization of chemicals (REACH), will now start to come into effect in June this year with the prime aim of improving safeguards to human health and the environment.
However its implementation is likely also to have a major impact on relations between suppliers and customers, particularly in sectors like coatings.
The project was finally approved by EU legislators in December after eight years of discussions, during which many of its proposals were fiercely opposed by chemical producers and downstream users.
Approximately 30,000 chemicals or substances will have to be registered with safety data under the REACH scheme, of which approximately five to ten percent will have to be evaluated and, if necessary, authorized because of their potential danger. Some of the most hazardous substances will have to be replaced by safer alternatives.
REACH also gives extra legal responsibilities to manufacturers of preparations, which are defined in the legislation as being a mixture or solution of two or more substances, and of articles or finished product
However its implementation is likely also to have a major impact on relations between suppliers and customers, particularly in sectors like coatings.
The project was finally approved by EU legislators in December after eight years of discussions, during which many of its proposals were fiercely opposed by chemical producers and downstream users.
Approximately 30,000 chemicals or substances will have to be registered with safety data under the REACH scheme, of which approximately five to ten percent will have to be evaluated and, if necessary, authorized because of their potential danger. Some of the most hazardous substances will have to be replaced by safer alternatives.
REACH also gives extra legal responsibilities to manufacturers of preparations, which are defined in the legislation as being a mixture or solution of two or more substances, and of articles or finished product
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