REACH compliance for SMEs

The Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulation has been headlined as a major piece of chemicals regulation but obligations under REACH extend far beyond just the chemicals sector. REACH imposes duties on all members of supply chains apart from consumers. This includes those who import or manufacture substances, mixtures or objects and those who use these goods in the manufacture of other goods or in applications such as cleaning, construction, interior decoration or printing. Many businesses are under increasing pressure from their customers to demonstrate REACH compliance as well as a growing threat of regulatory inspection leading to enforcement, given that REACH is no longer a "new" regulation.

IOM can assist you in identifying your obligations under REACH and in becoming REACH compliant. We can undertake an initial review and gap analysis of your business and your obligations under REACH (http://www.iom-world.org/consulting/reach/reach_scoping.php). This review will provide you with a list of recommended actions and an approximate time schedule to enable you to achieve REACH compliance within the timeframe set by the Regulation.

In addition we would identify potential threats to your business such as the intended phase out of dangerous chemicals that are currently critical to your operation.We can help in the formulation of strategies to develop alternative operational methods and/or development of a case for continued use (application for authorisation). The pathway to achieving REACH compliance will differ by organisation but we can help with all steps of the process. These include initial identification of the substances that you handle, assessment of whether substances fall within the scope of REACH and identification of your obligations and may extend to preparing a registration dossier (http://www.iom-world.org/consulting/reach/reach_dossier.php), providing appropriate information on risk management measures for your customers (http://www.iom-world.org/consulting/reach/reach_csa.php) and/or applying for authorisation to continue using or supplying particular hazardous substances under appropriately controlled conditions (http://www.iom-world.org/consulting/reach/reach_authorisation.php). We can help you in the development and implementation of an appropriate, achievable route to full REACH compliance (http://www.iom-world.org/reach_lp.php).