kzo Nobel Surfactants has been working towards the aims of REACH for several years, via the Responsible Care® program. “We are well positioned and committed to supporting our customers in making this challenging task a success”, says Eva Österberg, REACH & Product Stewardship Manager. She continues; “our key priority for the implementation of REACH is to cooperate and coordinate closely with our customers and suppliers to ensure that the required information is exchanged between all actors in the supply chain.”

She explains further, “since we will have to register the substances in each of the intended applications, it is essential for us to get information from our customers on how our products are being used.”

A questionnaire on use and exposure has been sent to customers and this information is a first step to prepare the risk assessments and the Chemicals Safety Report. From the suppliers, the need is to know what substances and uses they will register.  Akzo Nobel Surfactants has made an inventory of all their raw materials and the communication with suppliers has started.

The internal REACH implementation organization and processes needed are already in place and a thorough review of the product portfolio and substance data has been carried out.  “We have identified 14 substances which will not be pre-registered or registered. All other substances will be pre-registered,” says Jan Rosenblom, External Affairs Manager, who has been working with Akzo Nobel Surfactants REACH preparations for more than five years.

The decision not to pre-register and proposals for replacements are being communicated to the customers affected.

FACTS ABOUT REACH

The regulation on the Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals (REACH) entered into force on on June 1st, 2007.  REACH requires that a large number of chemical substances go through a safety assessment and registration process based on volume and hazard criteria over an 11-year period.

All substances manufactured in or imported into the EU, starting at a limit of 1 ton/year are to be registered. Manufacturers and importers of chemicals will have to prove that the uses of their substances are safe in the intended applications before they can be placed on the market. They have a year’s time from June 1, 2007 to compile data and prepare for pre-registration. The first phase of registration gives industry 3,5 years to comply.

The European Chemicals Agency in Helsinki will conduct the completeness checks and dossier evaluation. However during a substance evaluation, the Agency relies on the competent authorities in EU member states to assess prioritized substances. An authorization will be required for the most dangerous substances.