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Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
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http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2007/index.htm
EU chemicals policy - REACH (1st June 2007)
Excerpt -
Around 100,000 different substances are registered in the EU, of which around 30,000 are manufactured or imported in quantities above 1 tonne. Adequate data on the environmental and health effects is available for only a small proportion of these chemicals.
The existing regulatory system inherent in current EU policy for dealing with the majority of these chemicals - known as "existing" substances - has been in place since 1993 and has prioritised 140 chemicals of high concern. Although a programme of work has been drawn up, progress on regulatory action has been slow.
In response to this, the European Commission published a white paper outlining ideas on the future chemicals strategy in February 2001. The white paper proposed a single system to gather hazard information, assess risks, classify, label, and restrict the marketing and use of individual chemicals and mixtures. This is known as the REACH system:
Registration of basic information of substances to be submitted by companies, in a central database.
Evaluation of the registered information to determine hazards and risks.
Authorisation requirements imposed on the use of high-concern substances. This process will be used for both new and old...
CHemicals.
REACH covers both "new" and "existing" substances. All chemicals produced or imported into the EU in quantities above 1 tonne per year will be registered in a central database. Chemicals deemed to be of most concern will need an authorisation. This will require industry to gain specific permission for particular uses which have been demonstrated to be safe. Other uses will be prohibited.
The new regime will also create a European Chemicals Agency and amend current legislation in view of the new proposed Regulation. The Existing Substances (Regulation 793/93/EEC) will continue alongside REACH for one year in order to help facilitate the transition to REACH. Similarly the Marketing and Use Directive (76/769/EEC) will continue for two years until 1 June 2009 and then be replaced.
Source Defra
For full details please visit the defra website using this link.