New far-reaching requirements arising from Europe’s biggest ever environmental laws affect chemical businesses across the UK.

The first stage of the new law (known as REACH - Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals), required high production volume substances (> 1000 tonnes a year), chemicals identified as carcinogenic, reprotoxic or mutagenic (>1 tonne a year) and as very toxic to aquatic organisms (>100 tonne a year, classified as R 50/53) to be registered with the European Chemicals Agency in Finland by 30 November 2010. The submission of approximately 4300 substances has now been successfully completed.

Commenting on the complex task faced by companies in preparing for REACH registration, Claudine Albersammer from the UK based Chemical Industries Association said “the massive investment of time and resources by chemical businesses in the UK has paid off. It’s important for everyone to remember that the first registration deadline is very much the start of the journey however.”.

Many more substances still need to go through the registration process in 2013 (> 100 tonnes per year) and 2018 (> 1 tonne per year ). Alongside preparing for these future deadlines, businesses will be working closely with their supply chains communicating the outcomes from this first stage.

“I am proud of the contribution of businesses in the UK working with companies from around the world to make sure the aims of REACH are achieved. It’s a great demonstration of the responsible approach followed by our industry and a great achievement for all involved.” continued Albersammer.

CIA will now be pressing for a pragmatic and consistent implementation and enforcement of the legislation in a way that is science based and which addresses the lessons learned from the 2010 process.

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Editors notes

• REACH is the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals legislation that requires industry to register substances with the European Chemical Agency (ECHA). REACH was introduced by the European Union to harmonise chemical regulation and to ensure that the hazards and risks associated with the manufacture, use and disposal of chemical products is properly assessed and communicated to protect human health and the environment.
  
  
• 12% of the dossiers have been submitted by the UK. UK has the second highest number of registrations.
  
  
• The Chemical Industries Association is the organisation for all chemical and pharmaceutical businesses in the UK
  
  
• Claudine Albersammer is the Head of Products and Health and one of the UK’s leading experts on chemicals policy

Contact Name: Fiona Ferguson