. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/TBT/N/EEC/52 
21 January 2004 
 (04-0197) 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:  English 
  
NOTIFICATION 
 
The following notification is being circ ulated in accordance with Article 10.6. 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
 
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):         
2. Agency responsible:   European Commission 
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, e-mail and web-site addresses, if available) of  agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be  indicated if different from above:    
European Commission, 
EC-TBT Enquiry Point, 
Fax:  0032 2 299 80 43, 
E-mail:  ec-tbt@cec.eu.int
 
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [  X ], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [ X ], 5.7.1 [   ], other:         
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading. 
ICS numbers may be provided in  addition, where applicable):   Chemicals 
5. Title, number of pages and langua ge(s) of the notified document:   COM(2003) 644 final 
 
− Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council 
concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Au thorisation and Restriction of Chemicals 
(REACH ), establishing a European Chemicals Agency and amending Directive 
1999/45/EC and Regulation (EC) {on Pe rsistent Organic Pollutants};  
 
− Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending 
Council Directive 67/548/EEC in order to adapt it to Regulation (EC) of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals. 
6. Description of content:   The proposed Regulation would replace over 40 existing 
Directives and regulations.  At the core of the proposed system is REACH, a single, integrated system for Registration, Evaluati on and Authorisation of Chemicals.  REACH 
will require companies that manufacture or im port chemicals in quantities of one tonne or 
more per year to register these chemicals, to assess the risks arising from their manufacture 
and use and to take the necessary measures to ma nage any risk they identify.  This will 
reverse the burden of proof from public aut horities to industry for ensuring the safety of 
chemicals. 
The proposal provides also for evaluation of dossi ers, authorization and restrictions, and the 
creation of a European Chemicals Agency.  The Agency will manage the technical, 
scientific and administrative aspects of the REACH system at Community level. G/TBT/N/EEC/52 
Page 2  
 
The proposal has been drafted in close consulta tion with all interested parties, including via 
an Internet consultation (see document G/TB T/W/208).  The comments have resulted in 
important changes to make the proposed new sy stem more streamlined and effective.  The 
proposal has now been forwarded to the European Parliament and the EU's Council of Ministers for adoption. 
7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:  
The proposed new system will set high stan dards for protection of health and the 
environment while safeguarding the competitiven ess of enterprises, preserving the internal 
market and improving the potential for product innovation.  This balance will be to the 
long-term benefit of chemicals manufacturers,  importers, users, small and medium sized 
enterprises, consumers and for health and the environment 
8. Relevant documents:   COM(2003) 644 final.  The proposal is available in all 
EU languages at the following address:  
http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/ch emicals/chempol/whitepaper/reach.htm 
9. Proposed date of adoption:  Adoption not before end of 2005 
Proposed date of entry into force:  It is foreseen that the sy stem will enter into force 
in 2006 
10. Final date for comments:   90 days from the date of notification 
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [    ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers, e-mail and web-site addresses, if available of the other body:   
European Commission, 
EC-TBT Enquiry Point, Fax:  0032 2 299 80 43, E-mail:  ec-tbt@cec.eu.int