A consultation looking at proposals for the enforcement of EC Regulation 1907/2006, on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) in the UK has been published. REACH was agreed by the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers on 18 December 2006, and will come into force on 1 June this year. It will form the EU's framework legislation for the management, control and use of chemicals and replaces some 40 pieces of legislation.
Under REACH, manufacturers, importers, distributors and professional users who market or use chemicals must make sure that they are registered with the new Chemicals Agency. This requires information about the characteristics and hazards associated with a chemical to be identified. Those that pose a serious hazard can be banned or only used subject to an authorisation. As a European Regulation, REACH is part of our law without the need for implementation, however it requires that Member States set up a system of controls and penalties for breaching its requirements. This regime must be in place by 1 December 2008.
REACH will not only apply to chemicals manufacturers and suppliers, but to any business which uses chemicals, so a wide range of companies will be affected. The Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) are encouraging industry, trade unions, environmental groups and health and safety professionals to comment on the proposals. The consultation will close on 4 June 2007, and details can be found at www.defra.gov.uk.
