REACH Compliance

Is your business compliant with the EU and UK Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemical Substances (REACH) Regulations?

Whether you are starting from scratch or looking for advice on your existing REACH processes, we have a range of services that can be tailored to your needs.

The Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemical Substances (REACH) Regulations were introduced in 2007 with the aim of protecting users’ health and the environment through better understanding of chemical substances.

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Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) was adopted late 2006 and entered into force on 1 June 2007, aiming to improve the protection of human health and the environment from the risks that can be posed by chemicals, while enhancing the competitiveness of the EU chemicals industry.

Under the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, the EU REACH Regulation was brought into UK law on 1 January 2021 and is known as UK REACH.

UK REACH regulates chemicals placed on the market in GB, under the terms of the Northern Ireland Protocol, EU REACH continues to apply in Northern Ireland.

The UK REACH and the EU REACH regulations operate independently from each other. You must ensure you comply with both regulations, where necessary.

Therefore, anyone importing, manufacturing, or distributing chemicals in GB and/or Northern Ireland needs to understand how the UK REACH and EU REACH rules might affect their business.

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UK REACH is a regulation that applies to the majority of chemical substances that are manufactured in or imported into Great Britain (GB) (England, Scotland, Wales). This can be:

  • a substance on its own
  • a substance in a mixture, for example ink or paint
  • a substance that makes up an ‘article’ – an object that is produced with a special shape, surface or design, for example a car, furniture or clothes

Some aspects of UK REACH only apply at one tonne per year or more.

You will therefore need to consider your role in the supply chain in GB and how you use chemicals to determine what your obligations may be.

 

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EU REACH requires that all chemical substances placed on the European market in quantities equal or above 1 tonne per year shall be registered to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) before their placing on the market.

All EU manufacturers and importers of chemical substances have to comply with EU REACH.

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Which businesses are affected?

An organisation is affected by REACH if it:

  • manufactures or imports chemical substances or mixtures
  • processes chemicals or create mixtures for end use
  • produces or import goods which contain chemicals that are released during their use e.g. scented candles, nicotine patches, aerosols
  • produces or import goods which contain chemicals e.g. construction materials, electronic components, toys
  • uses chemicals in the workplace

Is your business obligated under the REACH Regulations?

Take our obligation test
Chemicals

How can Valpak help?

We offer a range of services that can be tailored to your needs, which include:

  • REACH compliance review: We will assess your current REACH obligations and compliance procedures and summarise any gaps and make recommendations to improve your processes.
  • REACH audits: We will undertake a detailed assessment of your obligations on a product by product basis, review all compliance documentation on file and make specific recommendations for improvement.
  • Full REACH compliance system: We will provide document templates for collection of REACH compliance information, contact suppliers to collect any missing information and set up systems to record compliance information on an on-going basis.

FAQs

If your business operates overseas it may be affected by similar regulations in other countries. Please contact us on 03450 682 572 for further guidance.

Manufacturers and importers must register each substance manufactured or imported in quantities of more than 1 tonne per year. They must also prepare a technical file about each substance and notify users about the safe use of each substance.

Users of chemicals have a range of obligations which primarily relate to ensuring the safe use of the chemical product as well as providing information and documents to further downstream customers.

Some businesses that were classed as downstream users under EU REACH may find that they are classed as importers under UK REACH if they are sourcing substances directly from the EU/EEA. This will mean they may have new registration responsibilities.

Make an enquiry

Contact us today to learn about our REACH services and how we can support your business: