The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), the operating body for the European Union’s (EU’s) new Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals (REACH) legislation, has called for companies to prepare for the pre-registration of chemicals, which will happen between 1 June and 1 December 2008.

ECHA is stressing the necessity of this pre-registration process, as it is worried that many companies do not recognize the importance and scope of the legislation, and the potential impact that noncompliance may have.

Under the REACH requirements, manufacturers or importers of chemicals will have to pre-register chemicals, if they want to continue to use them without interruption. The legislation is an EU Regulation developed to help importers and manufacturers of chemicals (such as the plastic industry) to assess and manage any health or environmental dangers posed by these materials.

According to ECHA, some 30 000 chemicals currently in use, such as acids, metals, solvents, surfactants and glues, will have to be pre-registered before the deadline. By pre-registering chemicals, companies will be able to share data about each material, paving the way to an increase in shared knowledge about each substance. This has been initiated to improve the long-term safety of these materials.

The REACH regulations affect all companies based in the EU that manufacture chemicals, or import them, in quantities greater than 1 t a year. Pre-registration of such materials is an important section of the legislation as it allows companies to benefit from the extended registration deadlines which apply to most chemicals currently on the market. Pre-registration allows companies to submit their complete registration dossiers by 2010, 2013 or 2018, depending on each case.

Companies that do not pre-register a chemical cannot continue manufacturing or importing it after 1 December 2008 until they make a full registration with ECHA. Pre-registration requires companies to submit basic information, such as details of the company and the name of the chemical concerned. Pre-registration is free of charge. The process also enables companies to share data on the chemicals they will register and so reduce costs.

Registration is an obligation on manufacturers and importers of chemicals introduced by REACH. It requires that companies consolidate data regarding the health and environmental properties and risks of their chemical and are able to demonstrate that it can be used safely. The file is then submitted to the Agency.

To raise awareness of the legislation and its potential impact, the ECHA and European Commission have hosted a workshop. The workshop explains key elements of the pre-registration and registration processes, focusing on practical aspects and examples. A recorded version of the event is available (see link below).

For information regarding the ECHA event, see: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/reach/events_en.htm For further information about REACH, see: REACH: from substances to finished products; http://www.performance-materials.net/htm/f20070327.654507.htm ; or: New European chemicals agency starts operations; http://www.performance-materials.net/htm/f20070720.530473.htm