-   Identify any 'Substances of Very High Concern' -- if your product
    contains one under REACH, you will need to notify ECHA and inform
    your customers and consumers of the presence of such substances in
    your products. The [Candidate List]{.underline} of substances of
    very high concern is available on the ECHA website:
    <http://echa.europa.eu/chem_data_en.asp>

-   The EU has determined that some substances pose unacceptable risks
    to human health and the environment. These substances are restricted
    from use across the EU (REACH annex XVII).

Stay up to date on the evolving REACH legislation. [REACH guidance
documents]{.underline} are regularly updated. For more information:
<http://reach.jrc.it/guidance_en.htm>

**Environmental Technologies Example:**

Company A exports aluminum sulphate (CAS n. 10043-01-3) -- a substance
used in the coagulation process for water purification. Aluminum
sulphate needs to be registered by the importer or the Only
Representative of company A (if greater than 1 metric tonne per year).
Pre-registration must be done by Dec 1^st^, 2008 to benefit from
extended deadlines for registration.

**Opportunities**

Through its Authorization procedure of Substances of Very High Concern,
REACH aims to promote substitution of dangerous chemicals with greener
and safer alternatives. This process may create new market opportunities
for US exporters of green chemistry and technology.

**We can help!**

For more information about exporting to the EU under the new REACH
legislation, visit the following sites:

-   <http://www.buyusa.gov/europeanunion/reach.html> (for US Commercial
    Service assistance)

-   <http://www.buyusa.gov/europeanunion/reach_bsp.html> (REACH Service
    Providers and Only Representatives)

-   <http://reach.jrc.it/about_reach_en.htm>

> (REACH 101, European Chemicals Agency)

-   <http://echa.europa.eu/reach/helpdesk/nationalhelp_contact_en.asp>
    (REACH National helpdesks)

-   <http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2007:136:0003:0280:EN:PDF>
    (actual REACH legislation)

To contact us:

The U.S. Mission to the European Union

Commercial Service

Bld. du Regent 27

B-1000 Brussels, Belgium

www.buyusa.gov/europeanunion

[Brussels.EC.Office.Box@N0SPAM.mail.doc.gov](mailto:Brussels.EC.Office.Box@mail.doc.gov)

The Commercial Service at the U.S. Mission to the European Union

![](media/image1.jpeg){width="2.6395833333333334in"
height="2.8055555555555554in"}

Is Your Business Affected By REACH?

**PROBABLY**

**Summary**

This leaflet was created to make US exporters of environmental
technologies, particularly SMEs, aware of the EU REACH legislation on
chemicals. It contains, in the form of frequently asked questions, REACH
coverage and compliance.

**What is REACH?**

REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of
Chemicals) is new EU legislation that protects health and the
environment by monitoring chemicals in the EU. *It does not only affect
chemical manufacturers.* All supply chains producing and/or using
chemicals and exporting to the EU, are affected by REACH.

**Who needs to register?**

**1.** If you are exporting a substance into the EU in a volume greater
than 1 metric tonne per year, the substance will need to be registered
in the EU, unless exempted specifically by REACH legislation.

**2.** If your product is an article under REACH (a finished product),
and there is an intentional release of a substance (with a volume
greater than 1 metric tonne per year) from your product, the substance
will need to be registered in the EU.

**3.** If your product is a preparation under REACH (a mixture of
substances), every substance with a volume greater than 1 metric tonne
per year in the product will need to be registered in the EU.

**\***Note that the registration deadline is extended until 2010, 2013
or 2018 (depending on the substance and volume exported) for [substances
pre-registered prior to the 1 December 2008 deadline.]{.underline}

**\***Also note that non-EU based companies cannot (pre)-register
directly. This must be done by their EU based importer or an Only
Representative. (See below for more information.)

**What should I do, as an exporter?**

[Identify your portfolio of substances]{.underline} (including in
articles and in preparations) to determine your obligations.

-   <http://reach.jrc.it/navigator_en.htm>

> (This REACH navigator is a useful tool in determining your obligation
> and it is free of charge.)

[Determine the quantity of those substances]{.underline} that fall under
REACH that you will export to the EU. If the quantity is below 1metric
tonne per year, you are exempt from registration.

[Talk to your supply chain]{.underline} to ensure that substances are
(pre)-registered.

[Consider hiring an Only Representative]{.underline} to carry out
pre-registration and registration of your substances under REACH in the
EU

-   <http://www.buyusa.gov/europeanunion/reach_bsp.html>

**[Pre-register]{.underline}** substances *prior* to 1 December 2008
through your importer or Only Representative. Pre-registration is
submitted online, free of charge and requires limited information.

-   <http://echa.europa.eu/pre-registration_en.asp>

-   Pre-registration creates a Substance Information Exchange Forum
    (SIEF) which allows members to cooperate to share substance data and
    ultimately submit joint registration.

Once pre-registration is complete, [continue the process of satisfying
all REACH obligations]{.underline} which may include any/all the
following:

-   Registration

    -   A complete dossier must be submitted to ECHA (European Chemicals
        Agency) with information on properties, uses, and safe
        management of substances.

    -   Full Registration (not pre-registration) requires a fee. SMEs
        may benefit from reduced registration fees.

    -   Guidance on how to register substances under REACH:
        <http://reach.jrc.it/guidance_en.htm>