Guidance and tools for downstream users.
Date: 2017-12-20
Institutions: European Chemicals Agency
Subjects: chemical industry, chemical product, dangerous substance, dissemination of information, environmental risk prevention

In brief

ECHA-17-B-10-EN 

Guidance and tools for downstream users
Down

Quality information is critical for all actors along the supply chain – 
from companies manufacturing and importing chemicals who need 
to assess their safety, to users wanting to ensure safe handling.  

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This factsheet provides an overview of guidance and tools for users 
of chemicals. This material, largely available in 23 EU languages, 
can be found in the Communication in the Supply Chain section of 
ECHA’s website. 

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GETTING STARTED

An easy way to get familiar with the REACH and 
CLP regulations is to watch ECHA’s short videos 
that explain the key aspects of the requirements 
for the users of chemicals. 

•  Who is a downstream user under REACH and 

CLP?

•  How REACH and CLP affect downstream users? 

Tips for users of chemicals, a series of one-page 
documents, gives concise introductions to:

the REACH Regulation
the CLP Regulation

• 
• 
•  ECHA’s databases on chemicals
•  chemicals of concern
•  authorisation
• 
•  exposure scenarios 
• 

the role of downstream users

the downstream user chemical safety report.  

The short guide Tips for users of chemicals in the 
workplace outlines how to best use the classification 
and labelling information received from suppliers.

MORE RESOURCES

•  The interactive guide on Safety Data Sheets 

and Exposure Scenarios provides an overview of 
these information sources. It helps suppliers of 
chemicals to compile their extended safety data 
sheets correctly and companies receiving them 
to better understand the information that has 
been provided.

•  The practical guide How downstream users can 

handle exposure scenarios aims to assist users of 
chemicals to comply with their duties in relation 
to the extended safety data sheet they receive 
from their suppliers.

•  The case study The use of information generated 

by REACH/CLP to ensure the safe use of 
chemicals provides examples of how to best use 
the information found in extended safety data 
sheets. 

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GOING DEEPER

Under REACH, companies using chemicals are 
responsible for managing them safely at their 
sites. They also need to pass quality information 
on uses and use conditions up in the supply chain 
to suppliers. This communication is essential 
in ensuring that the necessary information is 
provided to downstream users in extended safety 
data sheets, so that they in turn can make sure the 
chemicals they buy are handled safely.

•  ECHA’s downstream user web pages explain in 

detail how users of chemicals are affected by the 
REACH and CLP regulations and provide links to 
relevant support material. 

•  The guidance document for downstream users 
provides comprehensive information on the 
regulatory requirements for users of chemicals.

•  The interactive map for downstream users 

facilitates the finding of information for example 

on chemicals, downstream user web pages and 
support available on ECHA’s website 

In English only

•  ECHA’s presentations on the REACH and CLP 
regulations provide detailed information on 
the key aspects of the regulatory requirements 
for companies using chemicals. They can be 
downloaded and edited by the user.

•  ECHA’s Users of Chemicals channel on LinkedIn 
keeps its followers up to date on developments 
relating to the REACH and CLP regulations and 
promotes networking between peers who are 
interested in the safe use of chemicals. 

•  The Exchange Network on Exposure Scenarios 
(ENES), a collaborative network for industry 
and authorities, develops effective tools for 
information exchange between supply chain 
actors.

What the 
chemicals are 
used for

Companies who
register chemicals

How to use a 
chemical safely

How your product 
gets into the 
environment

Tell  your 
supplier

Use maps 
package

How workers use 
your product

How consumers 
use your product

Use chemicals?
These tools will
help you

Standard phrases 
you can use

Tell your 
customer

Understanding 
safety data 
sheets

Extended 
safety data 
sheets

Finding the 
most hazardous 
ingredients in 
your mixture

Advice on using 
mixtures safely

Companies who use 
chemicals

Use chemicals? These tools will help you

This infograph brings together the different tools that are available to companies to communicate 
information efficiently and effectively along the supply chain. Focusing on companies formulating mixtures, 
it outlines how the tools relate to that role in the supply chain.  

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annankatu 18, p.o. box 400, fi-00121 helsinki, finland  |  echa.europa.eu