REACH became law in the EU on the 1 June 2007 and has far reaching implications, not just for manufacturers and suppliers, but for everyone in the supply chain. ERA’s popular guide to REACH has again been updated to cover the latest developments.

This guide is designed primarily to assist those involved in the products sector as users of chemicals or materials, or importers or manufacturers of “articles” (products, components etc.), and their supply chain.

This guide is divided into two main parts:

• Understanding and responding to REACH: Sections 2 to 4 explain the requirements of REACH in summary and goes into detail as far as the product sector is concerned, explains the implications of REACH and explains how to develop and roll out a plan to meet your compliance objectives.
• Identifying and substituting Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs): SVHCs comprise various hazardous and otherwise undesirable substances for which greater restrictions and possible bans from use may apply. The problem for manufacturers and their supply chain is that in general they have only a limited idea of what substances are actually in their products. Section 5 explains what restrictions currently apply and to what, how to identify SVHCS, where they might be used and what substitutes exist.

Edition 3 has been comprehensively revised, updated and new information added, and has expanded in size from 118 to 147 pages compared with the 2nd edition. The ordering of information has been improved so that requirements are grouped with relevant actions. This makes the report easier to follow and to find information. The most significant additions and changes are as follows:

• Definitions of terminology - new section
• More details on who should register
• Why equipment manufacturers might need to apply for authorisation to use chemicals
• Material safety data sheets (MSDS) and associated obligations on users - new section
• Actions required to comply with REACH - expanded section
• Downstream user obligations, and importers/manufacturer of articles – obligations - new flowcharts

• Obligations for manufacturers who buy chemicals and materials from suppliers located outside the EU
• How SVHCs will be selected with more examples of chemicals used by electrical equipment manufacturers that could be classified as SVHCs - expanded Section
• Flame retardants section expanded to include antimony oxide, more on brominated flame retardants and an update on deca-BDE
• More data on plasticisers including details of hazardous non-phthalate plasticisers in current use and potential alternatives
• Information on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)
• Standardisation activities - new section
• The latest positions on the results of EU risk assessments
• More information on the uses of nickel, thallium and antimony
• Candidates for restriction by the RoHS Directive with ERA’s submission covering uses of these substances (March 2008) - new section.

Want to know more?
You can download the introductory section of the guide and table of contents for free or buy the complete guide from our online secure shop.