REACH initiative: what it means for your project

After a long process of analysis and discussion, a proposal for a new system called REACH - Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals was put forward. REACH includes new mechanisms for identifying relevant risk management measures for use of chemicals and requirements for sharing information on chemical properties, as well as safe uses up and down the supply chain.

REACH is designed to be an integrated approach to the control of the production, import and use of chemicals in Europe. It aims to create a system which is based on information about chemicals, and which ensures that useful safety information gets to those using chemicals. The REACH system is replacing a network of about 40 regulations. Crucially, in REACH the main responsibility for chemical safety is clearly placed on the chemical producer or importer (into the EU), not on public authorities or downstream users.

Tekdata Interconnections has followed closely the debate which took place over the past ten years. The company is now in a position to meet its obligations with respect to the implementation of REACH. Much, though not all, of the information generated by REACH is publicly available, including the main database of substances and properties and the classification and labelling database.

Contact Tekdata for more information about REACH and its implications...