REACH

REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals) is a regulation of the European Union (EU) that aims to ensure the safe use of chemicals and to protect human health and the environment from potential risks associated with chemical substances.

REACH requires manufacturers, importers, and users of chemicals to register their substances with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and to provide information about their properties, uses, and potential risks to human health and the environment. The regulation applies to all chemicals manufactured or imported in quantities of one tonne or more per year.

Under REACH, chemicals are evaluated to determine their potential risks to human health and the environment. Based on this evaluation, certain chemicals may be subject to restrictions or authorization, meaning that they can only be used under specific conditions. Authorization is granted on a case-by-case basis and requires the demonstration that the benefits of using the substance outweigh the risks.

REACH also requires the substitution of substances of very high concern (SVHCs) with safer alternatives where possible. SVHCs are chemicals that have been identified as particularly hazardous due to their potential to cause cancer, mutations, or reproductive problems.

Overall, REACH is an important regulation for protecting human health and the environment from the potential risks associated with chemical substances, and is recognized as one of the most comprehensive chemical regulations in the world.