REACH: the next step in controlling chemicals

News was prepared under the information support of Online Daily Newspaper on Hellenic and international Shipping "Hellenic Shipping News".

25 Feb 2010

In June 2007 the European Union implemented legislation called “Regulation Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals” (REACH). Anyone who produces, imports, distributes or uses chemical substances or preparations will be involved with REACH. The main item in this legislation is that base chemicals need to be registered, but only when they are imported into the EU or produced in quantities of over one tonne per annum. The producers and importers of base chemicals also need to perform a risk assessment for all identified uses and to take or propose measures to control and minimize the risks to both human life and the environment. One of the objectives of this registration is that both producers and importers share the data they have on single substances and cooperate to obtain additional information.
In the near future, it will be forbidden to sell, produce, import or use substances and preparations containing substances not registered in the European Union.
Wilhelmsen Ships Service has received a number of questions from their customers regarding the registration of Unitor branded chemicals and articles according to the REACH regulations. Wilhelmsen Ships Service and their customers are typical downstream users within REACH, therefore they do not have to register their products. The raw materials used by Wilhelmsen Ships Service are all purchased in the EU and therefore it is the suppliers of these raw materials that are required to register the products purchased from them.
Wilhelmsen Ships Service must provide information on the use to the customer, who is effectively the end user of the product, as well as to the supplier of the raw materials used in the product. When the customer’s application of the product differs from the application or use which is mentioned on the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet), a risk assessment has to be performed and the supplier has to be informed about the new application or use.

Source: Wilhelmsen Ships Service