Toxic chemicals and REACH



photo: horia varlan

Almost all of the products that surround us require chemical components. From 1999 to 2009 total world shipments of chemicals more than doubled from €1.2 trillion to almost €2.9 trillion. In the EU alone the chemical industry employs 3.2 million people across 60,000 companies. 100,000 different chemical products converted from oil, natural gas, air, water, metals and minerals are available on the EU market today. While essential to our modern economy, and ultimately bringing enormous benefits, a significant number of these products are toxic and potentially harmful to us and our environment. To tackle the use of toxic chemicals in our products, the EU has created a new piece of legislation called REACH (Registration, Authorisation and Evaluation of Chemicals).

REACH became law in 2007, and the first stage of 'registration' for chemicals begins December 2010. The regulation is based on the principle that it is for everyone in the chemical supply chain, from manufacturers and importers through to downstream users to ensure that the products they manufacture or place on the market do not adversely affect human health or the environment.

REACH demands that producers, users and importers have to register basic information about the health and safety impacts of their chemicals and ensure the results are available to everyone, unless the dissemination of this information significantly damages business interest. These results are then evaluated by the European Chemical Agency (ECHA). Chemicals regarded as particularly hazardous must be authorized by ECHA, who can force a company to restrict its use or make it substitute the chemical with a safe alternative. Information about the dangers will have to be made available to all users and consumers, including shoppers. Currently, a retailer is obliged to give you information about the toxic chemical content of a product upon request.

Progress reports on evaluation and enforcement of REACH in Europe

Member states are required to submit progress reports to the European Commission on the evaluation and enforcement of REACH. Since nor the European Commission neither the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) have published these documents, ClientEarth is making them available to the public. The progress reports can be accessed here.