REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of CHemicals)
On 18 December 2006, the Council adopted by unanimity the REACH Regulation (registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals), the cornerstone of the new European chemicals policy (3664/06) which replaces around 40 legislative instruments currently in force. Under REACH, companies that manufacture or import more than one tonne of a chemical substance per year would be required to register it in a central database. The aims of the proposed new Regulation are to improve the protection of human health and the environment while maintaining the competitiveness and enhancing the innovative capability of the EU chemicals industry. REACH would furthermore give greater responsibility to industry to manage the risks from chemicals and to provide safety information on the substances. This information would be passed down the chain of production.
