REACH Directive

REACH is a European Union regulation concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals. It came into force on 1st June 2007 and replaced a number of European Directives and Regulations with a single system. The main objective of REACH is a high level of protection of human health and the environment, while maintaining the competitiveness and innovation of the EU chemicals industry.
With over 30,000 substances on the EU market above 1 tonne per year, REACH was needed to address the issues including:

• Delays in assessing substances in previous regulations
• Increasing public concern and
• Very limited information available on hazards and risks to human health and the environment

Guidance on your roles and responsibilities can be found on both the HSE and Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) websites.

Additional REACH Directive Information

• HSE Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation & restriction of CHemicals (REACH)