How does REACH work?
REACH stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals.
Registration requires producers and importers to obtain relevant information on chemical substances produced in or imported to the EU market in quantities greater than 1 tonne per year. It involves submitting a technical dossier containing information on the substance and information on how to effectively manage the risk entailed by using it . Quantities above 10 tonnes per year additionally require the submission of a Chemical Safety Report (CSR) to document the safety assessment of the substance.
Evaluation allows the regulatory authorities to decide on proposals for further testing and assess whether information provided by industry complies with the requirements (dossier evaluation). For selected substances, for which a risk to health or the environment is suspected, substance evaluation provides a mechanism to require industry to obtain more information. Evaluation may also lead to the conclusion that action should be taken under the restrictions or authorisation procedures.
Authorisation may be required for substances of very high concern (carcinogens, mutagens, substances toxic to the reproductive system, and substances which are persistent, bio-accumulative and toxic, very persistent and very bio-accumulative or of equivalent concern).
Restrictions act as the safety net of the system. Any substance on its own, in a preparation or in an article may be subject to Community-wide restrictions if its use poses unacceptable risks to health or the environment. Restrictions can be decided either for the use of a substance in certain products, the use by consumers or even for all uses (complete ban of a substance).
