REACH is, since June 1, 2007, the main European Regulation about chemicals. The acronym stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restrictions of Chemicals. This Regulation is intended to improve the protection of human health and environment, through a better and earlier identification of hazardous properties of chemical substances. An amendment setting out the requirements for the suppliers to fulfil for the compilation
of a safety data sheet is about to be published. Further amendments are in progress.
According to this Regulation manufacturers and importers must gather information on the properties of the substances and mixtures, in order to ensure that they are appropriately handled. All substances in use shall be registered into a central database administered by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).
It is mandatory for these companies to cooperate finding the scientific data necessary for evaluation of the hazards. At present, more than 140 000 substances are pre-registered. Most of them are not yet officially classified but, at present, they are included in KemRisk with or without classification. Anyhow, they are allowed to be used.
For more information see the Link section. Also read the GHS/CLP section.
