The European Union, with the “White Paper on the Strategy for a future Chemicals Policy”, published in February 2001, started up a strategy for innovation of the legislative context concerning chemicals. The main objective of this Strategy was to ensure a high level of protection for human health and the environment, stimulating at the same time an efficient functioning of the internal market and innovation and competitiveness in the chemical industry.

On December 13th 2006 the European Parliament voted the new European Regulation on chemical substances known as REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation of Chemicals). The new regulation no. 1907/06, is expected to be in place from June 1st 2007. Basically the last version confirms all the main principles of REACH discussed with all stakeholders all along the last years since 2001 when the first “White Paper” was issued; particular emphasis has been placed over the authorisation phase and the adoption of safer alternatives in case of very dangerous chemicals (CMR, PBT and vPvB).

To ensure the minimal use of vertebrates, to reduce the testing burden generally and to encourage help for SME’s, REACH establishes the principle of ‘one substance one registration’. To implement this principle, data will have to be shared and consortia or other formal co-operation between companies will have to be established.

“REACH is coming and it is not going to be pretty!” bemoaned one of customers recently. REACH stands for Registration Evaluation and Authorization of CHemicals. The legislation has almost completed its passage through the European Parliament and is expected to come into force by the summer of 2007.

REACH, the imminent European Union regulation for the Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals has one key central aim: to protect human health and the environment from the potential risks arising from the use of chemicals. This simple and admirable goal has proved somewhat difficult to achieve.

Chemicals are the basis of most of our products even though they can have hazardous properties. They can in fact be irritant, toxic and corrosive; and they can cause cancer, mutations and reproductive problems. In the EU, more than 100106 chemicals were reported to be on the market in 1981, which was the first and only time that the chemicals used in the EU were listed.