News From EPPA– EU Reach Directive

Margot Parker, Head of European Communications and Legislation for European Promotional Products Association (EPPA), has sent us this update on EU legislation.

On June 1st the EU's REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals) Directive came into force. This legislation has been seven years in the making and at 1,000 pages long, the Bill is the most complex in EU history. Companies will be obliged to give new data on 30,000 chemicals. Despite entering into force on June 1st 2007, the first deadline for registering new information with Helsinki is June 2008.

REACH legislation will give industry greater responsibility in managing the risks from chemicals used in all kinds of products, from televisions to toothpaste. Chemicals will have to be tested and registered, and where a safer version is available, manufacturers will be advised to use those instead.

For further information visit ec.europa.eu or email info@echa.europa.eu

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