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REACH – Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals – replaces a number of regulations with a single system. It aims to protect people and the environment from the use of chemicals. Crucially, it aims to make people who place chemicals on the market responsible for understanding and managing the risks associated with their use.

Speaking at the UK Chemicals Stakeholder Forum in Cardiff, Jane Davidson, Minister for the Environment, Sustainability & Housing said:

I urge all companies manufacturing substances, importing them into the EU or recovering them from waste to urgently consider whether they need to pre-register those substances with the European Chemicals Agency.

A little over six weeks from now, all existing substances subject to registration under REACH must have been pre-registered, registered in full or withdrawn from the market.

Those who pre-register the substances they manufacture or import can take advantage of REACH’s phase-in deadlines and share the burden of preparation with other companies who have pre-registered the same substances.

Pre-registration is free and relatively straightforward and allows companies to take advantage of phased deadlines for full registration. Provided they have been pre-registered, many low-tonnage substances will not need to be registered in full until 2018.

Related Links

http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/environmentcountryside/epq/chemicalsradioactivity/chemicals/?lang=en