New EU Regulatory Framework for Chemicals

On 29 October 2003, the Commission adopted a proposal for a new EU regulatory framework for chemicals, the so-called REACH (Registration, Evaluation, and Authorisation of CHemicals). This new regulatory framework achieved all the objectives identified in the White Paper (EU 2001) and thus represents a model of sustainable development by pursuing its three main goals economic (industrial competitiveness), social (health protection and jobs), and environmental. 

Following 2 years of negotiation on the Commission s original proposal, and following the European Parliament s first reading opinion adopted on 17 November 2005, the Council reached a common position on 27 June 2006. 

The REACH Regulation was formally adopted on 18 December 2006 by the Council of Ministers following the vote in second reading of the European Parliament on 13 December 2006. REACH entered into force on 1 June 2007. 

REACH mainly refers to four important legal instmments on chemicals currently in force in the EU  

Dangerous substances - Council Directive 67/548/EEC (EEC 1967) relating to the classification, packaging, and labeling of dangerous substances 

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