Environmental Protection: Chemicals
EU chemicals policy - REACH
Background
1 June 2008: Defra consulted on detailed UK REACH enforcement arrangements:
- Consultation documents:
- Consultation paper (PDF 340 KB)
- Draft enforcement Statutory Instrument (PDF 530 KB)
- Revised enforcement Impact Assessment (PDF 200 KB)
- Summary of consultation responses (PDF 100 KB)
1 June 2007: REACH enters into force across the EU
March 2007: Defra consulted on proposals for the UK enforcement of REACH:
- Consultation on the enforcement of REACH in the UK (PDF 240 KB)
- Summary of consultation responses (PDF 90 KB)
December 2006: The European Parliament's Second Reading took place under the Finnish Presidency on 13 December when majority of Member States voted for REACH. It was subsequently adopted at the Environment Council on 18 December 2006 and was published in the EU Official Journal on 30 December 2006. See the final official REACH regulation (PDF) (on Europa website)
10 October 2006: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was asked to take on the role of UK Competent Authority for REACH (news release).
27 June 2006:
13 December 2005: At Competitiveness Council, Member States achieved political agreement on REACH, the new chemicals regulation. That paved the way for the Council to adopt a Common Position, and then with the European Parliament to deliver a final joint agreement in 2006
17 November 2005: The European Parliament completed its first reading.
15 November 2005: REACH: Once in a lifetime opportunity – Lord Bach’s speech to the European Parliament.
September 2005:
The results of a jointly-funded Defra-DTI assessment of the impact of REACH on supply chains is available on the above links. This complemented the Phase I RIA of March 2004, and focused on the implications of REACH for supply chains, based on three sector case studies. The Consultants’ overall findings suggested that industry was likely to be able to absorb the majority of the costs of REACH without impacting significantly on the competitiveness, location or market structure in the UK. However, in the case of a substance being withdrawn due to the failure of manufacturers or importers to support it through REACH, significant industry barriers might result in unexpected impacts (even where substitutes already exist).
March 2004:
October 2003: European Commission adoption of REACH proposal
February 2001: The white paper on the future development of EU Chemicals (PDF 160 KB)
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Page modified: 16 March 2009
Page published: 11 June 2008