REACH

REACH is the acronym for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisationand Restriction of Chemicals. In essence, the aim is to close the existing knowledge gaps in order to enable the responsible handling of chemicals.

The REACH Regulation

• requires manufacturers or importers to identify the hazardous properties (such as toxic, carcinogenic, environmentally hazardous) of substances (chemicals and natural products) and to assess the effects on health and the environment as part of a registration. To date, nearly 23,000 substances have been registered (as of 10/2021),
• also covers the use of substances as components of products,
• has introduced an authorization procedure for particularly hazardous substances,
• can ban or restrict certain hazardous substances,
• obliges manufacturers or importers to provide information both on hazardous properties and on safe uses of the substances,
• requires professional users to conduct their own safety analysis if the user deviates from the manufacturer's or importer's recommendations,
• thus maintains a tight safety net down to the product level.

Within the German government, the Federal Ministry for the Environment is in charge of the European Chemicals Regulation REACH. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) continuously adapts the guidance documents, which provide orientation for registrants, to these innovations.

1. https://www.bmuv.de/themen/gesundheit-chemikalien/chemikalien/reach