ABSTRACT
The Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulation set a new legal frame for the regulation of the production, marketing and use of chemicals. All substances under REACH are subject to a registration file containing data on physical, toxicological and ecotoxicological properties as well as information on safe use and risks. Obviously foreign producers exporting to Europe, from multinational companies to large and small Indian or Chinese manufacturers, have had to deal with REACH. It is directly enforceable in the European Union and a number of associated countries and replaces a large quantity of existing national and European legislation. ECHA, the European Chemicals Agency, based in Helsinki is responsible for the coordination and the monitoring of the whole process, with the support of national governmental institutions. Member states or ECHA can propose new restrictions, which are evaluated by the Risk Assessment Committee and the Socio-economic Committee of ECHA.
