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REACH: ECHA conducts controls.

''Large producers of products such as cosmetics, glue, air fresheners and plastics across Europe are breaking the law by using millions of tons of chemicals without carrying out important safety checks,'' the environmental umbrella European Environmental Bureau(EEB) reported to the European Parliament in Brussels on May 21, 2019, based on an investigation by the German environmental organization BUND.

Missing safety checks are an essential part of the registration dossier of chemicals to be registered with ECHA (European Chemical Agency).

The purpose of REACH and registration dossiers.

The European REACH Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 covers, among other things, the Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of chemicals produced, used and imported in Europe. Both in bulk and in goods. Examples of such products are toys, paints and detergents.

The REACH regulation came into force more than a decade ago. During that time, many steps have been taken to control the risks of chemicals. Among other things, by requiring the registration of chemicals.

A registration collects important safety information about a chemical in a registration dossier. The dossier contains safe use guidelines and, depending on the type of substance and production/import numbers, analytical results with information on the;

  • chemical composition and identity of the substance such as the individual chemical components that make up the substance, additives and possible impurities;
  • physicochemical properties of a substance such as its melting/freezing point, boiling point, flammability and water solubility;
  • toxicological properties of a substance such as the possibility of skin irritation, eye irritation and reproductive toxicity;
  • ecotoxicological properties of a substance such as toxicity to aquatic organisms and vertebrates.

All information in the dossier serves to provide a complete picture of the substance and whether it poses a risk to human and environmental safety.

ECHA takes action

The registration deadline of a complete substance registration file for large manufacturers and importers was as early as 2013. Smaller companies had a registration deadline until May 2018.

ECHA has now recognized the problem of incomplete or unsubmitted registration dossiers.

In response to the findings of BUND's study, the European Commission and ECHA proposed on June 24, 2019 to tighten the current 5% compliance check target for registration dossiers by:

  • Review 20% of all registration files in each registration class;
  • Screen all registration files submitted for 2018;
  • substances registered for more than 100 tons per year to be screened by 2023;
  • substances registered for 1- 100 tons per year to be screened by 2027;
  • check all substances for which information is lacking for compliance with REACH requirements.

ECHA is fully committed to monitoring the dossiers and compliance of all parties with a duty to register. They therefore motivate to strengthen the control of compliance with the duty to register. Such checks are carried out by enforcement agencies in the various member states.

Need help?

Do you have questions about the REACH regulation or need help determining whether your company has registration obligations? Précon Quality Services can inform you about this and support you in designing a substance administration, making analyses of total imported volumes and guiding the registration process with ECHA

For advice feel free to contact us at +31 (0)30 - 65 66 010.

Sources:
www.echa.europa.eu
www.eeb.org

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