What is EU REACH?

REACH is the Regulation for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals. It entered into force on 1st June 2007 to streamline and improve the former legislative framework on chemicals of the European Union (EU). REACH places greater responsibility on industry to manage the risks that chemicals may pose to the health and the environment.
 In principle REACH applies to all chemicals: not only chemicals used in industrial processes but also in our day-to-day life, for example in cleaning products, paints as well as in articles such as clothes, furniture and electrical appliances.

The aims of EU REACH are to:

• Improve the protection of human health and the environment from the risks  that can be posed by chemicals.
• Enhance the competitiveness of the EU chemicals industry, a key sector for the economy of the EU.
• Promote alternative methods for the assessment of hazards of substances.

Ensure the free circulation of substances on the internal market of the European Union.

How does EU REACH work?

EU REACH makes industry bear most responsibilities to manage the risks posed by chemicals and provide appropriate safety information to their users.
 
All manufacturers and importers of chemicals must identify and manage risks linked to the substances they manufacture and market. For substances produced or imported in quantities of 1 tonne or more per year per company, manufacturers and importers need to demonstrate that they have appropriately done so by means of a registration dossier, which shall be submitted to the Agency.
 
Once the registration dossier has been received, the Agency may check that it is compliant with the Regulation and shall evaluate testing proposals to ensure that the assessment of the chemical substances will not result in unnecessary testing, especially on animals.
 
Where appropriate, authorities may also select substances for a broader substance evaluation to further investigate substances of concern.
 
Manufacturers and importers must provide their downstream users with the risk information they need to use the substance safely. This will be done via the classification and labelling system and Safety Data Sheets (SDS), where needed.

EU REACH timetable

1 June 2007 - REACH enters into force

1 December 2008 - deadline for all companies intending to register a substance to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) (pre-registration)

1 December 2010 - Registration deadline for manufacturers / importers supplying a substance of above 1000 tonnes per year, or a Carcinogenic, Mutagenic or toxic for Reproduction (CMR) category 1 or 2 substance above 1 tonne per year

1 June 2011 - Notification of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) commences

1 June 2013 - Registration deadline for manufacturers/importers supplying a substance above 100 tonnes per year

1 June 2018 - Registration deadline for manufacturers/importers supplying a substance above 1 tonne per year

Introduction of UK REACH

Following the UK's withdrawal from the EU and the subsequent transition period, the EU REACH Regulation has been brought into UK law under the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. REACH, and related legislation, have been replicated in the UK with the necessary changes to make it operable in a domestic context. The key principles of the EU REACH Regulation have been retained. The new domestic regime is known as UK REACH. The REACH Statutory Instrument can be found on legislation.gov.uk.

As of 1 January 2021 the UK REACH and the EU REACH regulations operate independently from each other. Companies that supply and purchase substances, mixtures or articles to and from the EU/EEA/Northern Ireland and Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) will need to ensure that the relevant duties are met under both pieces of legislation.

Under the Northern Ireland Protocol the EU REACH Regulation continues to apply to Northern Ireland, while UK REACH will regulate the access of substances to the GB market.

Links to further information:
What is UK REACH?

Zygology, EU REACH and UK REACH

Zygology Ltd is aware of its responsibilities under EU and UK REACH and is working with its suppliers to ensure that we are compliant and the supply chain is unaffected. Where necessary we have taken steps to register chemicals or compounds which we import directly.

Currently, we have not been advised of any product changes or withdrawals as a result of EU REACH or UK REACH regulations.

Click here for a downloadable PDF version of our EU REACH statement

 
Please find below links to EU REACH statements from our key suppliers:-

Penn Engineering

Southco REACH Statement 2024 

Stanley Engineered Fastening (POP, Avdel, Masterfix products, Spiralock)

Qonnect

If you require more information from Zygology regarding REACH please email ashley.varnam@zygology.com who is our REACH contact.