Overview

The REACH Regulation

The European Parliament and the European Council approved the REACH regulation at the end of 2006: companies that produce more than a ton of chemicals in Europe or import into Europe will have to meet special documentation and registration requirements for chemical substances, which will lead to significant operational efforts. Since June 2007 more than 6,000 companies affected have had to register more than 30,000 different chemicals. The first REACH phase came into force on June 1, 2007 and one year after that the pre-registration will start. By December 1, 2008 companies have to have transferred the substance data and uses, which are affected by the pre-registration, to the agency in Helsinki.

However, this is by no means the end of the story, as companies will have to monitor and document the REACH compliancy of all purchasing, production and sales processes. In order to align the complex and recurring processes around REACH with the company's core processes also in the future, companies need the support of an IT solution that is integrated into business processes - stand-alone solutions for the registration or Excel-sheets cannot provide this.

» Is your company affected?

On the one hand REACH affects the producers and importers of substances and preparations in the process industry. Preparations are e. g. pellets for plastics manufacturing. But the focus is also on producers and importers of products containing substances regulated by REACH. In practice there hardly will be any industrial company in the EU that does not have to at least provide information. Moreover, many market participants outside the process industry will have to register substances, e.g. automotive manufacturers and supplier, mechanical and plant engineers or textile producers.

» What impact does REACH have on your Business?

Managing your REACH requirements involve engaging in three major activities:

1. Registration of substances and collaboration in SIEFS

REACH requires the registration of substances per legal entity. To coordinate all registration and testing activities for specific substances the regulation advises that manufacturers and importers organize themselves into Substance Information Exchange Forums (SIEFs). In the SIEFs the companies exchange information and data, e.g. testing results, and they regulate cost trade-offs. Thus the collaboration in the SIEFs requires effective communication.

2. Save use of substances

Additionally, you have to comply with the safe usage conditions of the products containing the registered substance. This means: you have to continuously monitor the affected processes and ensure the compliance with the requirements, and risk management. This is why you need functionalities for material, substance and usage management that support you in efficiently managing all REACH-relevant substances of your company, e.g. concerning the substance properties as well as usage and exposure scenarios.

3. Communication in the supply chain

In addition to registering and obtaining authorization for the substances used in your own company's products, you must document and submit for registration the uses of those substances throughout the whole supply chain. This means that accountable communication with your customers and your suppliers will become a cornerstone for your success.

Operating in accordance with REACH is an ongoing process. An IT solution for your comprehensive support needs to be integrated into the core processes such as purchase, production and logistics on the one hand. On the other hand it has to fit into the existing IT landscape. Only then can the solution take the burden off your hands now and in the future.