REACH at Blaser Swisslube
A summary from Dr. Martin Manikowski
Head of Research and Development• REACH: What is it?
• What does REACH mean for Blaser Swisslube?
• What does REACH mean for our customers?
• What impact could REACH have on Blaser Swisslube‘sproduct range?
• The position of Blaser Swisslube• Where do we stand with the implementation?

REACH: Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals
On the 1st of June 2007, a new European Law - REACH - entered into force.

www.blaser.com

• REACH: What is it?
The EU has through the introduction of the REACH legislation, the goal ofprotecting both the health of people within the EU and limiting damage tothe environment. This law ensures that the chemicals in use within the EU
are registered and evaluated. That means their human and environmental
impact is determined. After the process is complete registered chemicals will
be authorised for use in defined application areas.
Thus, only chemicals which have been Pre-registered and then fully Registered within the 10 year staged period allowed by REACH can be used within
the EU. Each producer or importer who wants to market substances (as described in REACH) must have a Registration number for this material.
• What does REACH mean for Blaser Swisslube?
Blaser Swisslube has to contact all of its suppliers to make sure that the materials they supply to us are included in the registration dossiers and that theuse of the raw materials is clearly defined. Thus, our suppliers have to knowthat their products are used in e.g. metalworking fluids. Additionally, Blaser
Swisslube manufactures certain materials for use in its products and thesehave to be placed into the registration process.
• What does REACH mean for our customers?
Customers using Blaser Swisslube products in their designed applications(metal working) and using normal disposal procedures, will be automaticallycovered by the REACH processes made by Blaser Swisslube and its suppliers.
We will, as part of our REACH programme, automatically pass information„upstream“ to our suppliers.
For the first time, the approval procedure will involve the customers in thechain who use the materials (termed Downstream Users) in order to build up
an exposure scenario and safety management measures.
HOWEVER, if Blaser products are used in an entirely new way by our customers, Blaser Swisslube has to be informed so that we can advise them properly
about additional REACH implications.

• What impact could REACH have on Blaser Swisslube‘s product range?
REACH is predicted to have a profound impact on the chemicals industry, on
suppliers and users. It might be that some raw materials will not make it through
REACH. As on previous occasions we will have to replace these unapproved orwithdrawn raw materials. We expect no major reduction in substances available
to us as raw materials. If a raw material were to be no longer available, then as
before, it would be replaced and our customers would be informed about this.
However, we are confident that this will be a rare event as we work with leading
suppliers and with available raw materials.
• The position of Blaser Swisslube
We consider ourselves to be in a good situation, as all the raw materials affected by REACH have been registered either by our suppliers or directly byBlaser Swisslube within the set time limit. We have complied with the registration requirements in full. Blaser Swisslube is careful to ensure that no CMR ingredients are included in its products. And it goes without saying that our Safety
Data Sheets are REACH-conform. Information on SVHC is given in an additional
confirmation letter and also in the continuously updated Material Safety DataSheets.
SVHC: Substance of very high concern
CMR: cancerogenic, mutagenic toxic to reproduction• Where do we stand with the implementation?
We are on course. The substances contained in the products supplied by Blaser
Swisslube meet the requirements on pre-registration and registration in accordance with REACH (EU Directive 1907/2006) by meeting one of the following
points:– The volume delivered by Blaser Swisslube AG into the EU amounts to lessthan 1 metric ton per year
– The substance has already been registered in the supply chain (re-import inaccordance with REACH Art. 2)– The substance has been pre-registered by an exclusive agent (BMG Engineering GmbH, OR18) and the deadline for the registration is 2018.
We confirm that the conditions for exceptions for re-imports in accordance withREACH Art. 2 have been met for substances already registered.
Dr. Martin Manikowski
Head of Research and Development
Hasle-Rüegsau, January 2015

REACH is a highly complex issue – the text of the law (EC 1907/2006)
consists of more than 800 pages.
• If you need further information about REACH, please contact:

Blaser Swisslube AG
CH-3415 Hasle-Rüegsau (Switzerland) • Tel. +41 (0)34 460 01 01 • Fax +41 (0)34 460 01 00
www.blaser.com

14.210 E (1217)

Desiree Wilson, Head of Product Stewardship+ 41 (0)34 460 08 48
reach@blaser.com