REACH - the process for the Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals- has come into force in June 2007 and is already having an impact on the European chemistry industry.
This new chemical policy obliges the producer/importer to register substances that are being manufactured or imported in quantities above one tonne. Organizations which ignore REACH not only face loss of business, but possible legal action in due course.
It is important to understand that all legal entities that produce or import methanol into the EU are obliged to register, which includes consumers importing this product themselves.
The CEFIC Methanol Sector Group, the Methanol Institute and the International Methanol Producers and Consumers Association (IMPCA) have joined forces to set up a consortium to assist companies in meeting their REACH obligations. This consortium will offer vital support to move your business through the REACH process.
An important part of this process is the collection of Safety, Health and Environmental data on methanol, and the Registration Authorities are encouraging the industry to produce a common dossier on this data in order to efficiently process the registrations.
In short, the REACH registration process consists of two stages.
- The first stage is the Pre-Registration in which all legal entities that are producing methanol in the EU, as well as al entities that import methanol into the EU are required to pre-register to the European Chemical Agency (ECHA). This process needs to take place between 1st June and 1st December 2008. Non-EU Manufacturers cannot pre-register/register directly the substances that are exported to the EU. Either registration is done by Importers or, alternatively, non-EU Manufacturers may be represented by a natural or legal person located in the EU territory, the “Only Representative”. Further information about Pre-Registration you can find in the GUIDANCE ON PRE-REGISTRATION AND DATA SHARING of ECHA at their website. (http://echa.europa.eu/home_en.html)
- The first stage is the Pre-Registration in which all legal entities that are producing methanol in the EU, as well as al entities that import methanol into the EU are required to pre-register to the European Chemical Agency (ECHA). This process needs to take place between 1st June and 1st December 2008. Non-EU Manufacturers cannot pre-register/register directly the substances that are exported to the EU. Either registration is done by Importers or, alternatively, non-EU Manufacturers may be represented by a natural or legal person located in the EU territory, the “Only Representative”. Further information about Pre-Registration you can find in the GUIDANCE ON PRE-REGISTRATION AND DATA SHARING of ECHA at their website. (http://echa.europa.eu/home_en.html)
- The second stage is the full registration which needs to take place before the 1st December 2010. This registration requires registrants to issue a full dossier of technical and safety and environmental risk evaluation data on methanol including exposure scenarios for different uses of derivates. In order to facilitate an efficient collection and sharing of data according the REACH regulation a Methanol Consortium has been formed to prepare this dossier, which can then be used by members of this Consortium in their registration. It is therefore important that all interested methanol producers and importers join this Consortium.
In July the members of the CEFIC Methanol Sector Group have signed the contracts related to the formation of this Consortium and they have now opened the membership to other companies that have a need to register under the REACH legislation.
The Consortium has also contracted the REACHcentrum for managing the secretariat of the Consortium and Mr Leonardus Appelman has been appointed secretary to the Consortium. For any further information regarding the Consortium you are requested to contact him on
Tel: +32 26767305 or e-mail at lap@reachcentrum.eu.
Two papers on REACH, presented at the 2008 mini-conference, can be requested at info@impca.eu.
More information can be also be found on the following links:
For any information on joining the Methanol Consortium please contact the IMPCA secretariat at info@impca.eu
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For any queries please contact the secretariat at :
info@impca.be
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