Products such as electronic components and toys are covered under REACH if they contain substances from which chemicals may be released during normal use.

I manufacture electrical and electronic products. The European Union (EU) is a major market for me. I hear that they have recently implemented a "REACH Regulation" that affects exporters. I use chemicals in my manufacturing and have chemicals in my products. How am I affected?

REACH is a new European Community Regulation on chemicals and their safe uses. It came into force on 1 June 2007 and involves the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals made, imported or are present within products, in amounts of one tonne and above in the EU market.

REACH impacts two groups of people. One is the chemical manufacturing industry, who are required to register and evaluate the risks for chemicals placed in the EU market.

The second group affected are companies that use chemicals downstream in their manufacturing and export these products to the EU. This means that products ranging from construction materials, electronic components, vehicles to toys are covered under REACH if they contain substances from which chemicals may be released during normal use. Your company would fall under this category.

Even though the responsibility of compliance to REACH lies with your importers in the EU, they will have to rely on you as their supplier to provide hazard data and safe-use information. These information are required for the registration component of REACH. You will need to ensure that the chemical substances present in your products are registered either through your importers, or you may appoint an Only Representative who can help carry out the registration of the substances for you in the EU.

The impact of REACH on exporters to the EU could therefore be as follows: There may be potential cost increases that may be passed down to you. However this will be far outweighed by your ability to stay competitive. With better understanding of REACH you will be in a strong position as EU businesses would be looking only for suppliers who can support them to comply with REACH. ET

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