REACH

EACH is an acronym for Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals.

REACH aims to "ensure a high level of protection for human health and  environment, including the promotion of alternative methods for assessing hazards of substances, and the free circulation of substances on the domestic market while improving the competitiveness and innovation "(Article 1.1).

Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and the Council of 18 December 2006 and Directive 2006/121/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of 18 December 2006 amending Directive 67/548/EEC were published in the Official Gazette December 30, 2006. The regulation will apply directly to Member States upon its entry into force, on 1 June 2007.

A major innovation of REACH is the reversed burden of proof. Now the industry rather than public authorities are entrusted with the burden of proof in risk assessment: it is the company's responsibility to demonstrate that substances may be manufactured , used, and destroyed without causing risks to human health and the environment. An important objective of REACH is also encouraging that dangerous substances are eventually replaced by substances or technologies that are less dangerous.

Source: REACH Helpdesk & CLP / www.rech.lu