Exporting to EU? Get ready for ‘REACH’

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: We export chemicals and equipment for school labs to African countries and the UK. Our buyers in UK inform us that a new legislation called REACH is due, for which we would bear the cost of registration. Will it cover all countries?

[PR Shrewala & Co, Mumbai]

The new ‘Registration, Evaluation, and Authorisation of Chemicals Directive’ (REACH) is to come into force in the first half of 2007 in the EU. This is being termed as the largest and most complex piece of legislation to be introduced in Europe. It covers EU members only.

With REACH in place, all chemicals manufactured or imported into Europe (over one tonne per year) must be registered by manufacturers and/or importers. It also covers supply chains using chemicals (textiles, toys, electronics). Registration will require manufacturers and importers to understand the hazards, risk control measures and proposals to perform any outstanding tests. The authorities will then evaluate the information submitted and possibly request missing tests.

Manufactures exporting to the EU should note that EU importers may try to pass the requirements to test the chemicals on to them. This will hurt many small exporters. The exact requirements are yet to be finalised.

It seems that any manufacturer of an ‘article’ designed to emit chemicals, may need to ensure that the chemicals have been registered for that particular use, or take it though the REACH process.

Even products not designed to emit chemicals may well be captured by a ‘notification’ procedure asking manufacturers and importers to notify the authorities of any high hazard chemicals used in the supply chain and present in the final product above a base level. This may require registration of a chemical under REACH at a later stage.

For more details, visit:http://ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/reach/reach—intro.htm Or http://ecb.jrc.it/REACH/

We are in the process of setting up a general and heavy fabrication engineering unit in Tuticorin,Tamil Nadu. Is there an organisation to assist us source the right machinery and to get initial work orders in India? Is there are any registration required for this? Can we showcase the launch of new machineries, products and technology in any publication? Which is the most efficient way to procure orders?

[Vijay, PothiPon-Pal Industries Pvt Ltd, Tuticorin through email]