Source: SPECIALIST PRINTING WORLDWIDE : ISSUE 2: 2013
Elaine Campling discusses the European Commission’s recently issued general report
The European Commission recently issued a general report on REACH following a review of five years of the Regulation, required by Articles of the REACH Regulation and Article 46(2) of the CLP Regulation. A number of milestones have been surpassed since the REACH Regulation entered into a force, but the chemical industry is currently in the process of complying with the 2013 registration deadline. This registration milestone will see more registrations than in 2010, arguably involving less experienced lead registrants with more limiting data on the substances, due to the volumes involved.
The ultimate aim of the REACH Regulation is the evaluation and control of chemical substances to protect human health and environment. Consequently, a number of mechanisms have been derived within the framework of the REACH Regulation to govern the use of chemicals, including restriction and authorisation of use. The decision-making processes generally include public consultation, but many organisations are not aware of the consultation process, which is time limited and the various additions to the listings can be difficult to track.