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European Union regulation | |
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Title | Regulation concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), establishing a European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) |
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Made by | European Parliament and Council |
Made under | Art. 95 (EC) |
Journal reference | L396, 30.12.2006, pp. 1–849 |
History | |
Date made | 18 December 2006 |
Entry into force | 1 June 2007 |
Preparative texts | |
Commission proposal | COM 2003/0644 Final |
EESC opinion | C112, 30.4.2004, p. 92 C294, 25.11.2005, pp. 38–44. |
CR opinion | C164, 2005, p. 78 |
EP opinion | 17 November 2005 13 December 2006 |
Other legislation | |
Replaces | Reg. (EEC) No 793/93 Reg. (EC) No 1488/94 Dir. 76/769/EEC Dir. 91/155/EEC Dir. 93/67/EEC Dir. 93/105/EEC Dir. 2000/21/EC |
Amends | Dir. 1999/45/EC |
Amended by | Reg. (EC) No 1272/2008 |
Current legislation |
Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) is a European Union regulation dating from 18 December 2006.[1] REACH addresses the production and use of chemical substances, and their potential impacts on both human health and the environment. Its 849 pages took seven years to pass, and it has been described as the most complex legislation in the Union's history[2] and the most important in 20 years.[3] It is the strictest law to date regulating chemical substances and will affect industries throughout the world.[4] REACH entered into force on 1 June 2007, with a phased implementation over the next decade. The regulation also established the European Chemicals Agency, which manages the technical, scientific and administrative aspects of REACH.