REACH is a new European Union regulation concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of CHemicals. It came into force on 1st June 2007 and replaces a number of European Directives and Regulations with a single system. Further information on REACH can be found here:
The UK is committed to the development of a global scheme for the classification and labelling of chemicals through the UN. This is a long term project which will require new law (EU and UK) to put in place. Further information can be found on the UN web site, EU website and the HSE website.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched a 12 week consultation on proposed amendments to the Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations 2002. The amendments are necessary to implement into national legislation European Commission Directive 2006/8/EC, commonly known as the second Adaptation to Technical Progress of the Dangerous Preparations Directive (the 2nd ATP).
The changes do not affect the main legal duties but will adjust:
As a result of some of these changes, chemical suppliers may need to take account of any large quantities of newly re-classified chemicals they have stored on site at any one time to ensure that they comply with the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999 (as amended).
The consultation invites stakeholders to review the proposed amending regulation and respond to the HSE with any comments by 4 July 2008.
Details of the Consultative Document can be found at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/consult/condocs/cd217.htm
The 30th ATP to the Dangerous Substances Directive was finally adopted by Member States on 16 February 2007. It has not yet been formally adopted or published in the Official Journal but we will provide an update when it is, here. In the mean time you can view the proposal that was voted on.
The timescale for implementation of the 30th ATP is 1 June 2009 - deliberately longer than is usual. The same implementation date will be used for the 31st ATP, which the European Commission expects to call a vote by Member States towards the end of this year. The formal proposal for the 31st ATP is available here:
The longer implementation date reflects the intention that the proposed EC Regulation to adopt the GHS in the EU will be agreed before this date. This Regulation will take the existing Annex 1 of Dangerous Substances Directive, together with all the adaptations to technical progress (including the 30th and 31st ATPs), convert the entries to GHS classifications and labels, and insert them in a new Annex that will act directly at EU level.
The practical consequence is that the UK and other Member States will not need to implement the 30th and 31st ATPs into national legislation (in our case CHIP).