REACH Update from IOM

The European Chemical Agency (ECHA) has launched today a new section on its web site to facilitate public consultations which are required by the REACH Regulation. The first public consultation has been initiated on 16 proposals for the identification of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) and will last until 14 August 2008 . These proposals have been prepared by Member States with the view to include these chemicals in the first ‘candidate list’ of substances that eventually may be subject to authorisation.

Placement on the 'candidate list' will trigger new duties for producers, importers and suppliers of articles. Producers and importers of articles that contain substances that are included in the 'candidate list' have, under certain conditions, an obligation to make a notification to ECHA. Likewise, suppliers of articles will need to provide to their customers and consumers available information on the safe use of their articles containing these substances. The ‘candidate list’ will be published on ECHA’s web site and regularly updated when new substances have been identified as SVHC. ECHA plans to publish the first list by the end of October 2008.

Substances on the 'candidate list' may eventually be included in the 'authorisation list'. Once a substance is included in the 'authorisation list' its use will be subject to authorisation. Companies wishing to market or use such a substance will have to submit an application for authorisation to ECHA. Decisions on authorisations will be made by the European Commission

Full details of the consultation can be found at:
http://echa.europa.eu/consultations/authorisation/svhc/

The substances are:

Comments should relate to the hazardous properties of the substances that qualify them as SVHCs. Interested parties are also invited to submit information on use and exposure as well as on safer alternative substances and techniques.