REACH September 2007 Update
Registration, Evalulation and Authorisation of Chemical Substances (REACH)
REACH is the new European regulation for chemical substances. The abbreviation stands for Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemical substances. This legislation will replace the current EU legislation (directive 67/548/EEG).
Objectives
The aim of REACH is to improve the protection of human health and the environment through the better and earlier identification of the properties of chemical substances. At the same time, innovative capability and competitiveness of the EU chemicals industry should be enhanced.
Registration
Companies that produce or import one tonne or more of a chemical substance annually will be required to register it in a central database at the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).
Around 30.000 of these substances are currently expected to be on the European Market. Registering all of these at once would be a huge task for both industry and regulators. To overcome this, the registration of those substances already being manufactured or supplied is to take place in three phases.
These phases are spread over 11 years. To benefit from these provisions manufacturers or suppliers should pre-register their substances between 1st June to 30th November 2008. Before the 1st January, 2009 ECHA will publish a list on their website with the names, einecs- and casnumbers, mentioning the last possibility to register. High Production Volume substances need to be registered before 2010.
Lapinus Fibres’ position
Man-Made Mineral Fibres have been manufactured and used over more than 70 years and have since been thoroughly investigated. Both animal test and large scale epidemiological studies have shown that MMVF are safe to use.
The High-Alumina, Low-Silica fibre of Lapinus, a development to create products without concern, is considered to be not carcinogenic (IARC) and is exonerated according to the EU legislation 97/69/EC. As such we are confident that the registration within REACH will not pose any problems.
Lapinus Fibres will follow the guidelines concerning REACH and take the necessary actions to have their products timely pre-registered and registered. The High-Alumina, Low-Silica fibres are produced in High Volumes and require final registration before 2010.
If questions remain please contact Nanty Hautus, Health & Safety Officer
Tel. +31475353554
Fax. +31475353677
Cell. +31653368588
nanty.hautus@lapinusfibres.com
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