REACH
ECHA prepares for the countdown to 2018 registration deadline / “Roadmap” to guide SMEs
In the run-up to the final REACH registration deadline for existing chemicals on 31 May 2018, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA, Helsinki / Finland; http://echa.europa.eu) has published a “REACH 2018 Roadmap” for what it says is the “significantly larger” number of small and medium-sized enterprises that manufacture or import substances in low volumes, of 1-100 t annually, and are expected to register for the first time. Large companies that may also have hundreds of chemicals in their portfolios to register could also profit, ECHA adds.
The 22-page paper outlines the varying milestones along the path to registration as well as the support services ECHA plans to offer. Similarly to the REACH 2018 web pages published in October 2014, the new roadmap is built around the seven phases of a successful registration process. For each phase, it describes the milestones and the estimated time needed to complete the process. ECHA’s executive director, Geert Dancet, said the REACH administrative body also will consistently monitor companies’ progress in order to be able to help them overcome any obstacles found along the road. All support material will be available in 23 EU languages.
Both industry and authorities have gathered valuable experience in the practical implementation of the REACH registration requirements during the past two registration deadlines, ECHA says. However, the agency expects that the 2018 process will be “quite different.” Up to 70,000 registrations will be prepared – three times more than for either of the previous deadlines.
Along with the total number of registrants comprising more small and medium-sized companies, ECHA points out that many of them are likely to be inexperienced and operating outside the chemicals sector. Accordingly, the new substance information exchange forums (SIEFs) will also be small or even consist of only a single company, while at the same time, there will be less information available on the substances to be registered.
e-Service:
ECHA’s "REACH 2018 Roadmap" (January 2015) as a PDF file
The 22-page paper outlines the varying milestones along the path to registration as well as the support services ECHA plans to offer. Similarly to the REACH 2018 web pages published in October 2014, the new roadmap is built around the seven phases of a successful registration process. For each phase, it describes the milestones and the estimated time needed to complete the process. ECHA’s executive director, Geert Dancet, said the REACH administrative body also will consistently monitor companies’ progress in order to be able to help them overcome any obstacles found along the road. All support material will be available in 23 EU languages.
Both industry and authorities have gathered valuable experience in the practical implementation of the REACH registration requirements during the past two registration deadlines, ECHA says. However, the agency expects that the 2018 process will be “quite different.” Up to 70,000 registrations will be prepared – three times more than for either of the previous deadlines.
Along with the total number of registrants comprising more small and medium-sized companies, ECHA points out that many of them are likely to be inexperienced and operating outside the chemicals sector. Accordingly, the new substance information exchange forums (SIEFs) will also be small or even consist of only a single company, while at the same time, there will be less information available on the substances to be registered.
e-Service:
ECHA’s "REACH 2018 Roadmap" (January 2015) as a PDF file
19.01.2015 Plasteurope.com [230260-0]
Published on 19.01.2015