Understanding REACH
Date published:
(Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals)
Certain substances, while hazardous, are essential to manufacturing in some sectors. For businesses dealing in these materials, there is a level of necessary restriction. This article aims to improve your understanding on what is required of you when trading or manufacturing hazardous substances. It outlines the UK REACH system, which deals specifically with restrictions on chemicals.
What is REACH?
Brought into law under the European Union Withdrawal Act of 2018, UK REACH replicates EU legislation intended to protect human and animal health from dangerous chemicals. Although replicating EU legislation, UK and EU REACH operate independently from each other. This article will deal solely with UK REACH regulations, which apply to Great Britain. In Northern Ireland, EU Reach regulations apply, in line with the Northern Ireland Protocol.
What REACH tries to do is evident from its name, which stands for the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals. REACH has four main principles, which are as follows:
1. The ‘No Data, No Market’ principle
While it might sound complicated, this principle basically means that manufacturers and importers must gather information on the properties of their chemical substances in a central database. (You can register information on this database at the government’s website here). This allows for the safe handling of chemicals and hazardous substances. Without the gathering and registration of information, hazardous chemicals cannot go to market. Hence the term, ‘no data, no market’.
This EU Commission designed this principle because, for many years, manufacturers created hazardous substances, and put them on the market in at times very high amounts. However, there was insufficient information on the risks that they posed to human health and the environment. As such, the government is trying to fill this gap so that the industry can better assess hazards and risks that the substances pose. It’s all about protecting you and our environment.
2. The ‘last resort’ principle on animal testing
This means that any chemical tests done on animals can only ever be carried out as a last resort. REACH states that the registrant of the chemicals can only generate information by means OTHER than animal testing, wherever possible.
3. Access to information for workers
This one is pretty self-explanatory. Any employees working for chemical manufacturers have a right to access safety data sheets, chemical safety reports, and other information about the substances and mixtures provided to the employer.
4. The precautionary principle
This principle means that risk reduction measures must be considered when the risk of a certain chemical is uncertain, but a significant hazard has been identified.
What does this mean for me or my company?
Most companies use chemicals in some way, so you may have obligations under UK REACH. However, not every company will have specific duties. You will need to consider how you use chemicals, and what your obligations may be. Remember that REACH obligations:
- apply to all sectors
- apply regardless of your companies size
- make you responsible for the safe use of the substances you place on the market or use
- require that every actor in the supply chain communicates information on the safe use of chemicals
Further Information
Hopefully this article has enhanced your understanding of the REACH system, its main principles, and its reason for existing.
You can access further information on UK REACH on the government’s website here.
You can access further information on EU REACH on the European Commission website here.
In a similar vein to this article, you can find another NEECC article here, detailing Restrictions of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) rules in the UK.