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06/06/2008
 Email to a friend
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Don’t panic! The latest regulation to reach our industry is designed to protect our health. By Mike Richardson.
 REACH – the Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals Directive – is aimed at protecting human health and the environment, as well as improving industry competitiveness and innovation.
The regulation stipulates all chemicals and preparations – substances of very high concern (SVHC) – currently manufactured or imported into Europe in quantities of more than 1tonne per annum will need to be registered. The Directive also requires information to be provided about the substance’s properties and uses, along with an assessment of the associated environmental and health risks.
SVHCs will require prior authorisation for specified uses. All applications for an authorisation must include an analysis of alternatives and a substitution plan where a suitable alternative exists. However, there may also be opportunities to become more resource efficient through material substitution or ‘green’ chemistry.
The first major business milestone was 1 June 2008, which saw the opening of a six month window during which chemical manufacturers can pre register products. Miss it, and they will have to go through a more stringent registration process immediately.
With the electronics industry still untangling itself from the red tape of the RoHS Directive, it’s important to understand exactly what’s within REACH, and whether it will have the intended effect on the electronics industry as a whole.
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Author
Mike Richardson
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