In an article published on June 1, 2018, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) reported that 21,551 chemicals have been registered under the European Regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH). May 31, 2018 marked the deadline of the ten-year registration period for existing chemicals on the European market. The REACH Regulation entered into force in 2007 and is based on the ‘no data, no market’ principle. The chemical industry was required to submit registration dossiers for the chemicals they manufacture or import, “documenting the chemicals’ properties, uses, and conditions for safe use.”
“13,620 European companies have submitted information to ECHA in nearly 90,000 registrations,” the agency informed. This information “is stored and published by ECHA in the world’s largest public regulatory database on chemicals and forms the basis for protecting citizens and the environment from the risks posed by chemicals,” ECHA further explained. The “increased knowledge” is used “to take action where necessary, for example, by restricting or authorizing certain uses of chemicals.” In this manner, REACH “promotes innovation towards safer substances and strengthens EU competitiveness,” ECHA highlighted. Companies need to “keep the information on their chemicals up to date” as “science evolves, new chemicals are developed and products change,” ECHA reminded.
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ECHA (June 1, 2018). “21 551 chemicals on EU market now registered.”
ECHA (May 31, 2018). “Call for companies to continue their cooperation after the deadline.”
Luke Buxton (June 1, 2018). “More than 21,000 substances registered under REACH.” Chemical Watch
Cefic (June 1, 2018). “Cefic: Industry has invested heavily to make REACH work. Now REACH needs to work for the European industry.”
Cefic (June 1, 2018). “In the run-up to REACH deadline day, Cefic Director General Marco Mensink shared his thoughts about the EU’s flagship chemicals legislation with POLITICO.”
