Importance Of Reach On Both Human Health And The Environment

By Author: REACH is the European Union Regulation which addre
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REACH is the European Union Regulation which addresses the production and use of the chemical substances which have the potential impact on the human health and environment. It is the abbreviated form of Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation (and Restriction) of Chemicals'. REACH has been described as the most complex legislation in the EU's history and the strictest law to date regulating, governing and prohibiting chemical substances and will impact industries throughout the world. The REACH legislation entered in to force in June 2007.
All companies manufacturing or importing chemical substances into the European Union in quantities of one tonne or more per year have to mandatorily register under the REACH EU regulation. Supply, manufacturing and importing of chemical substances to the European market which are not pre-registered with REACH EU is considered as illegal and unauthorized. REACH EU also addresses, governs and controls the use of chemical substances of very high concern that have negative and lethal impacts on human health or the environment. REACH EU applies to all chemicals imported or produced in the ...
... EU with the assistance of European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) which manages the technical, scientific and administrative aspects of the REACH EU system through its REACH-IT online system.

REACH has attracted concern because of the potential for a very significant increase in animal testing under the proposal, but the construct of One Substance, One Registration was devised such that all companies registering the same substance would have to co-operate (in a SIEF - Substance Information Exchange Forum) and thereby share animal testing data. This has resulted in the REACH Consortium, where companies form agreements to work together based on SIEF memberships - often using web-based SIEF software, and there are now many REACH Consortia established and working towards joint registrations.
After more than a decade since it was first discussed at EU ministers' level, REACH chemical legislation came into force but there is a worrying lack of knowledge of its existence among the downstream users of chemical substances. The main objective of REACH chemical legislation is that no one should be left unaware of REACH EU or REACH chemical legislation, and how far the chemical consuming industries are aware of the legislation and its potential lethal impact on human lives and environment. Under REACH chemical legislation the European Commission has the power to ban the use of a chemical in certain products, or to ban it completely. It is noteworthy that REACH EU applies to chemicals manufactured in or imported into the EU too. It does not apply to the use of chemicals in finished articles where there is no danger of a substance in that article leaching into the environment.