REACH is a new European Community Regulation on chemicals and their safe use. It deals with the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemical Substances. The new law entered into force on June 1st 2007.

All manufacturers and importers of chemicals must identify and manage risks linked to the substances they manufacture and market by registering for REACH.

Who should consider registration ? REACH is a major issue for discussion by tyre recyclers and material users…

The aim of REACH is to improve the protection of human health and the environment through the better and earlier identification of the intrinsic properties of chemical substances. At the same time, innovative capability and competitiveness of the EU chemicals industry should be enhanced. The benefits of the REACH system will come gradually, as more and more substances are phased into REACH. The REACH programme has been designed to be fully implemented over a ten year period; on 1 June 2007 it was put in force the whole completion is anticipated for 2018. The Regulation makes industry bear most responsibilities to manage the risks posed by chemicals and provide appropriate safety information on the substances to their users.

Manufacturers and importers will be required to gather information on the properties of their chemical substances, which will allow their safe handling, and to register the information in a central database run by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) in Helsinki. The Agency will act as the central point in the REACH system: it will manage the databases necessary to operate the system, co-ordinate the in-depth evaluation of suspicious chemicals and run a public database in which consumers and professionals can find hazard information.
The Regulation also calls for the progressive substitution of the most dangerous chemicals when suitable alternatives have been identified.

Who should consider registration ?

All substances that are manufactured within the EU or imported into the EU, in quantities greater than 1 tonne per year, should be registered. There are exceptions including those substances that are defined as waste, and those that have not been on the market prior to 1992, as well as many recycled materials are also excluded.
There has been established a pre-registration period – from 1 June through 1 Dezember 2008, which allows companies to benefit from extended registration deadlines – providing a transition period. Unless the substances are pre-registered – companies cannot benefit from the transition period and may have to cease production.
Companies producing shred, granulate, powder or other materials from post-consumer tyres are concerned of the REACH programme and should consider pre-registration.

For further information regarding the REACH programme, please see ETRA homepage www.etra-eu.org

For further information in German language please see REACH Informationsportal http://www.reach-info.de

Literary source: ETRA NewsNotes. The European Tyre Recycling Association, July 2008.