European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) – how the European Union regulates chemicals

SUMMARY OF:

Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 – concerning the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals and establishing a European Chemicals Agency

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATION?

The registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals (REACH) regulation provides a comprehensive legislative framework for chemicals that are manufactured and used in Europe. It shifts the responsibility for ensuring that chemicals produced, imported, sold and used in the European Union (EU) are safe from public authorities to the industry. The regulation also:

promotes alternative methods to animal testing;
creates a single market for chemicals;
aims to foster innovation and competitiveness in the sector;
establishes a European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).

KEY POINTS

The legislation applies to all chemical substances: manufactured, imported, sold, used on their own, in mixtures or in products. Many can be found in our daily lives as cleaning products, paints or in electrical appliances.
Companies must register, in a central database, all the chemicals they manufacture or import in quantities of 1 tonne or more per year. The ECHA must check the information submitted in the registrations.
Companies must identify and manage any risks linked to the substances they manufacture and market in the EU. They must demonstrate how to use their products safely and inform users of any risk management measures they should take to ensure safe use throughout the supply chain.
National authorities may restrict the manufacture or use of certain substances if they consider that the risks are not adequately managed.
The legislation aims to replace the most hazardous substances with safer alternatives, where they are available.
The legislation does not apply to certain groups of substances (e.g. those that are radioactive or under customs supervision) or to waste, as these are already extensively regulated under other legislation.

In 2013, the European Commission assessed the first 5 years of the REACH regulation and concluded no major overhaul was required. The second REACH review (REACH refit evaluation) was carried out by 2018 and revealed the need to revise certain elements of the legislation. The chemicals strategy for sustainability, published in October 2020, announced the need for a target revision of REACH (see the communication).

FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?

It has applied since 1 June 2007.

BACKGROUND

The chemicals industry is one of the EU’s largest manufacturing sectors. It plays a pivotal role in our daily lives and in the overall competitiveness of the economy. The EU has put legislation in place that enables the chemicals industry (and the broader manufacturing industry that uses chemicals) to develop and innovate, while at the same time ensuring its products are safe for people and the environment.

For further information, see:

Chemicals (European Commission)
REACH (European Commission).

MAIN DOCUMENT

Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), establishing a European Chemicals Agency, amending Directive 1999/45/EC and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93 and Commission Regulation (EC) No 1488/94 as well as Council Directive 76/769/EEC and Commission Directives 91/155/EEC, 93/67/EEC, 93/105/EC and 2000/21/EC (OJ L 396, 30.12.2006, pp. 1–849). Text republished in corrigendum (OJ L 136, 29.5.2007, pp. 3–280).

Successive amendments and changes to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 and its annexes have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.