If you manufacture, import, or use chemicals in the European Union, you may have to complete a REACH registration. REACH is Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of CHemicals.

The REACH regulation focuses exclusively on "substances." To ensure a properly working REACH system, unambiguous substance identification is essential. The Technical Guidance document (TGD), cited below on substance identification, is intended to support industry, Member States and the European Chemicals Agency.

The European Chemicals Agency will make its first recommendation of priority substances to be included in Annex XIV (list of substances subject to authorisation) by 1 June 2009.

 

How Science IP can help with your REACH registration form:

In the Technical Guidance Document, Guidance for identification and naming of substances under REACH¹ an overview of the substance identification parameters within REACH Annex VI is given in Table 3.1 (shown below).

Science IP can provide substance information (i.e., Table 3.1) to help your company meet the challenges of REACH compliance.

Please contact us for a quote.

How do you determine if you should file
a REACH registration form?

A tool, called the Navigator, has been developed by the Commission services to help users identify their obligations under REACH. It can be found on http://echa.europa.eu/reach_en.asp.

While not yet specified, the Navigator gives some indication of the characteristics of substances that will be included on the list:

• "substances meeting the criteria for classification as carcinogenic ..."
• "substances meeting the criteria for classification as mutagenic ..."
• "substances meeting the criteria for classification as toxic for reproduction ..."
• "substances which are persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic ..."
• "substances which are very persistent and very bioaccumulative ..."
• "substances - such as those having endocrine disrupting properties or those having persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic properties or very persistent and very bioaccumulative properties ... for which there is scientific evidence of probable serious effects to human health or the environment ..."

The above noted Technical Guidance Document (TGD), although not a legally binding document, addresses the methodology on the identification, naming, and reporting of a chemical substance within the framework of REACH.

The three lists of substances, EINECS, ELINCS, and the NLP-list, in combination are called the EC Inventory. Each substance in this inventory has an EC number allocated by the European Commission.

The EC Inventory can be used as a tool for manufacturers and importers to decide whether a substance is a phase-in substance or a non-phase-in substance. Thus, the EC Inventory will help manufacturers and importers find out when the registration of a substance will be required, and if a pre-registration or an inquiry is necessary.

For assistance with completing your REACH registration form, contact Science IP.

See also: the STN Feature Article, " STN - Reliable data for REACH compliance," and "REACH regulatory compliance easier with help from STN" for information on how to use STN databases to comply with the REACH regulations.

¹ "Guidance for identification and naming of substances under REACH," copyright, European Chemicals Agency, 2007, used with permission.