Over the past few years, many companies have been using toxic and harmful substances that can negatively impact humans’ way of life. These chemicals are not only dangerous to humans, but they also destroy the environment. Because of that, it’s vital to safeguard the surrounding by meeting requirements that can ensure the safety of both the environment and humans. For example, you’re about to open a company that uses and produces a large amount of chemical compounds that can potentially endanger living beings. If that’s the case, you need to observe REACH Compliance and become a REACH certificate holder.
Chemicals are toxic to the environment and a danger to human health. Therefore any company or business that manufactures these chemicals must be REACH compliant to continue with their business. A REACH Certificate is a record that verifies that a substance is fit with EU REACH regulation (EC) no 1907/2006. Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restrictions (REACH) is a European Regulation initiated to protect the people and the environment from risks posed by chemicals while enhancing the competitiveness of the EU chemicals industry.
What Does SVHCS Mean in the EU?
SVHCS means substances of very high concern, which are substances or chemicals that are very serious where its damaging effects are almost irreversible. Therefore, it poses a dangerous threat to humans and the environment. If a chemical is ascertained to be an SVHCS, then it will be added to the Candidate List and later included in the Authorization List (Annex XIV). As a result, companies with SVHCS should provide users with safety instructions and data about the substance, how it’s used, and its composition.
How Does REACH Work?
REACH authenticates the methods used for collecting and evaluating information about the characteristics and risks of substances. So companies need to register the substances they use. They also need to work with other companies that also use the same substance as them.
ECHA or European Chemicals Agency will receive and evaluate the registrations for their compliance. After that, the EU Member States will assess substances and clarify any concerns for human health and the environment. After that, the authorities and ECHA’s scientific committees will determine if the risks of the implications can be managed.
If the risk of the substances is not manageable, Authorities will immediately ban the use of the substance. They can also subject it to prior authorization or restrict its usage.
How REACH Affects the Companies
Companies that may not think they are not involved with substances are still affected by REACH. It impacts a wide range of companies from various sectors. In general, under REACH, you may have to be under one of these roles:
- Manufacturers – If you make chemicals and use them yourself or supply them to other people, you’re directly affected by REACH.
- Importer – If you purchase chemicals outside of EU/EEA, you might have some responsibilities under REACH. It may be a mixture of chemicals, individual substances, or finished products such as clothes, plastic goods, or furniture.
- Downstream Users – Most companies use chemicals, even if you haven’t realised it yet. So in cases like these, you need to check on your obligations if you handle chemicals in industrial or professional activities.
- If you’re a company that’s established outside the EU, you’re not bound by any obligations under REACH.
