Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006, known as the REACH Regulation (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals), is the central EU regulation for the registration and regulation of chemicals. It is intended to increase the protection of people and the environment by obliging companies to provide information on the substances they manufacture or use, to provide evidence of their safety and to use only registered substances.
Requirements
REACH requires that all substances manufactured or imported into the EU in quantities of over 1 tonne per year are registered and assessed with regard to their risks. The regulation prescribes the identification of substances of very high concern (SVHC) and can restrict their use or make their use subject to authorisation. For the processors of a raw material, such as manufacturers of rubber parts, it is relevant that they must check compliance with the specifications, observe safe conditions of use and inform their customers about any SVHCs in articles.
Application
REACH affects the entire supply chain - from raw material manufacturers to processors and end product suppliers. For the rubber and plastics industry, this means, among other things:
- Testing and documentation of chemical ingredients
- No use of prohibited substances
- Safe handling during mixing and processing
- Traceability of supplier information and provision of SVHC notifications if limit values are exceeded