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REACh
Our current chemical system consists of more than 103,800 chemical substances. Round about 100,000 of these were introduced to the market before 1981 and are listed as "existing chemicals" or "phase-in substances" in EINECS (European Inventory of Existing Commercial Chemical Substances). The rest - more than 3,800 substances - are listed as "new chemicals" in ELINCS (European List of Notified Chemical Substances). For the existing chemicals, which cover more than 97% of the market, there is a lack of information regarding their safety for human health and the environment.
With REACh, this gap is closed. It is the new chemical regulation of the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals.
The regulation is based on the principle that it is for manufacturers, importers and downstream users to ensure that they manufacture, place on the market or use such substances that do not adversely affect human health or the environment.
In detail, REACh will:- improve the protection of human health and the environment,
- ensure transparency throughout the whole chemical supply chain,
- transfer responsibility from public authorities to the whole chemical industry (manufacturers, importers and downstream users),
- create a harmonised system for EINECS and ELINCS,
- substitute hazardous substances,
- promote non-animal testing.
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