REACH: a new regulation for chemical products

The production of chemical substances has soared over the last 70 years, from 1 million tonnes in 1930 to over 400 million tonnes today, with the proportion of hazardous chemicals increasing in equivalent proportions. Although some hazardous products are regulated or even banned, the risks associated with the use of many chemicals are still poorly identified. This lack of knowledge about the impact of these chemicals on human health and the environment is a source of great concern to both the public and the authorities. Although European regulations in this field have evolved over the last forty years, they have proved insufficient to properly assess the hazards of all the substances placed on the market and the risks associated with their use. In 2001, the European Commission decided to implement a new chemical policy to improve chemical risk prevention, which led to the adoption of the REACH regulation in December 2006. REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of CHemicals) has two main objectives: to ensure a high level of protection for human health and the environment, and to strengthen the competitive position of the European chemical industry. To this end, it establishes an integrated system for the registration, evaluation, authorization and restriction of chemicals. Under REACH, industry will have to prove that a substance is harmless, failing which production, marketing and processing in the European Union will have to cease.

This reform of chemical legislation represents a clear improvement in health and environmental protection. It should make it possible to reduce pathologies of chemical origin, both for workers and for the general population. It will enable users and consumers to make informed choices about the substances with which they come into contact. It will also encourage innovation and provide a strong incentive for industry to replace harmful chemicals with safer substances.