What is REACH?

Registration, Evaluation, Authorization of Chemicals.

As manufacturer and formulator of chemicals and chemical preparations, Axim is affected by REACH and has been preparing for it since 2005 by carrying out a number of actions such as reformulating products, collaborating and exchanging information with suppliers and sales partners, and training and informing users.

REACH concerns the registration of substances manufactured in or imported into the European Union.

It is meant to institute a single European management system for chemicals.
European producers and importer-processors (outside the EU) of more than 1 tonne of chemicals per year are responsible for pre-registration procedures and registration of these substances. Only manufacturers and importers of the substances are affected. Users must respect the safety guidelines communicated by the suppliers.

Which chemicals are affected?

REACH is a recent regulation (#1907/2006 of European Parliament and the Council of December 18, 2006) instituting a new policy in relation to the management of chemicals in the European Union.
This document, which came into effect in June 2007 (but with general application coming into effect as of June 2008), deals with the Registration, Assessment, Authorization and/or Restriction of more than 100,000 substances* currently circulating freely in the European markets.

REACH was born of the desire to harmonize the different laws regarding chemicals, which are currently in effect in EU countries. The purpose of this single management system for chemical substances* is to improve knowledge of the hazards linked to their use in order to better protect Human Beings and the Environment.
The manufacturing of substitute substances* that are increasingly safer, progressive bans on hazardous substances* and total control of hazards related to the use* of chemicals are a few of the specific accountabilities of REACH.

Substance*: basic chemical element, in its natural state or obtained from a manufacturing process, that may form part of the composition of several preparations* or be used to make other goods*.

Preparations* and goods* (not directly affected by REACH): the substances contained by them must be registered.