What is REACH?

Source: Scale model, GUD, Braunschweig

REACH stands for the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation of Chemicals. This new EU Regulation centralises and simplifies chemicals legislation throughout Europe and entered into force on 1st of June 2007. The declared objective is to improve the level of knowledge about dangers and risks that chemicals may pose. Companies are expected to assume even more responsibility for the safe use of their products. The Federal Authorities offer a wide range of information on REACH so that particulary small and medium-sized companies can also quickly become familiar with the new provisions.

What is CLP?

The new EU Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 on Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Substances and Mixtures, the CLP-Regulation, entered into force on 20th January 2009. The CLP-Regulation introduces the Globally Harmonised System of the United Nations for the classification and labelling of chemicals (GHS) into the EU and is direct acting in all EU Member States. The objective of CLP is to ensure a high level of protection of human health and the environment as well as the free movement of substances, mixtures and certain specific articles within the European Union. The global harmonisation of regulations for classification and labelling of substances and mixtures (UN-GHS) for marketing and use on the one hand and for transport on the other aims at protecting human life and the environment as well as simplifying world trade.

What is the REACH-CLP helpdesk?

The REACH-CLP helpdesk is the national information centre for producers, importers and users of chemical substances. It provides information and guidance in connection with the implementation of REACH and CLP (GHS) and support with the registration, evaluation and authorisation as well as the classification and labelling of chemicals.

The helpdesk is a network of experts from the German Federal Authorities who are ready to provide specific information and expertise.

• Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA)

  Division 5 Federal Office for Chemicals / Authorisation of Biocides

  Division 4 Hazardous Substances and Biological Agents

• Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR),
• Federal Environmental Agency (UBA)
• Federal Insitute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM)

The Internet pages of the national helpdesk relating to the REACH- and CLP-Regulations are only available in German.