European Chemicals Agency Releases New Version of REACH-IT
The European Chemicals Agency has issued a notice announcing that a new version of REACH-IT is now available.
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(The REACH-IT portal is the main channel for companies to submit data to ECHA under the EU’s REACH1 program.)
The following are highlights of the new version of REACH-IT:
Earlier Joint Submission of Registration Dossiers
The main new feature in this REACH-IT release is the change in procedure when submitting registration2 dossiers that are part of a joint submission. To speed up the process, it is now possible for the members of a joint submission to submit their dossiers as soon as the lead dossier has been accepted for processing (i.e. when it passed the business rules). With this new feature, members of a joint submission do not need to wait until the lead registrant has been informed that its dossier is complete and received the registration number before members can submit their dossiers.
New Online Functionality for Preparing Classification & Labeling Notifications
With the new REACH-IT release, preparing Classification & Labeling (C&L) notifications under the CLP Regulation3 is now easier with the help of the new on-line C&L notification functionality. The on-line tool allows companies to prepare their C&L notifications directly in REACH-IT and to search the inventory to see whether the same substance has already been notified by another company, or whether a Harmonized Classification already exists for this substance. If a match is found, the existing classification and labeling entry can be reused by clicking the “I agree” button available in this functionality.
These new C&L notifications functionalities are available in REACH-IT from the “Classification and Labeling” menu:
- “Notify a C&L online”
- “View Submitted C&L”
No More Updates before November REACH Registration Deadline
According to ECHA, after this update to REACH-IT, there will be no more new functionalities introduced before the November 30, 2010 deadline for REACH registration of: (i) chemical substances in quantities of 1000 tons and above; (ii) carcinogens, mutagens and substances toxic to reproduction above 1 ton/year; and (iii) substances classified as very toxic to aquatic organisms (R50/53) above 100 tons.
1REACH entered into force on June 1, 2007, and is intended to streamline and improve the former legislative framework on chemicals of the EU. It stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals and places greater responsibility on industry to manage the risks that chemicals may pose to health and the environment.
2Under REACH, manufacturers or importers who are established in the EU and who manufacture or import chemical substances (as such, in preparations or in articles) in quantities of one ton or more annually have to register those substances with ECHA. Non-EU manufacturers, formulators or producers can appoint “only representatives” who fulfill the obligations of the importers. (See ITT’s Online Archives or 04/09/10 news, 10040930, for most recent BP summary on REACH registration.)
Registration of a chemical substance includes: (i) compilation and assessment of the hazard properties of the substance and its conditions for safe use; (ii) submission of this information to the ECHA; and (iii) payment of the relevant registration fee.
3CLP is the European Regulation on Classification, Labeling and Packaging of chemical substances and mixtures that introduces a new EU-wide system for classifying and labeling chemicals, based on the United Nations’ Globally Harmonized System.