REACH Timeline

REACH impacts the entire value chain

• raw materials
• isolated intermediates
• sales substances
• downstream usage

With certain exceptions, all substances manufactured in or imported into the EU in annual volumes of 1 ton or more must go through one or more of the REACH processes shown below:





The Process
Pre-registration

June 1^st 2008 - December 1^st 2008

Manufacturers and importers must pre-register substances that are already on the EU market (so-called phase-in substances) if they want to benefit from transitional arrangements allowing their registration at a later stage.  


Registration

In 3 phases depending on substance hazard and volume -  
deadlines: November 30^th 2010 / June 1^st 2013 / June 1^st 2018

REACH requires manufacturers and importers of chemical substances to obtain information on the physico-chemical, health and environmental properties of their substances and use it to determine how these substances can be used safely.  Each manufacturer and importer must submit a registration dossier documenting data and assessments.

If substances are not registered correctly in time, they cannot be manufactured, imported or sold.


Evaluation

Dossier evaluation - ECHA decides whether dossier information complies with requirements and examines testing proposals made by registrants.

Substance evaluation – ECHA in coordination with the competent authorities of the Member States assesses the risk of substances to human health or the environment and determines the possible need for additional information and/or proposes further testing.


Authorization

Companies applying for authorization must demonstrate that any risk associated with uses of a substance is adequately controlled or that the socio-economic benefits of use outweigh potential risk.


Restriction

The EU can impose restrictions and prohibit or set conditions for the manufacture, placing on the market or use of certain dangerous substances when unacceptable risks to humans or the environment have been identified.


Ciba intends to pre-register all its substances