Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH)

The European Union’s (EU) REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals) regulation was enacted on June 1, 2007. REACH combines approximately 40 pre-existing requirements with several new compliance obligations. The new regulatory regime requires importers and manufacturers of chemicals to provide health and safety data for approximately 30,000 substances, many currently used in everyday products. These products range from plastics used in computers and mobile phones to substances used in textiles, paints, furniture, toys, and/or cleaning products. The regulation states that companies that manufacture or import phase-in substances (existing substances in the EU) exceeding one metric ton per year (per legal entity) must register those substances. Unlike previous legislation, the use of chemicals in finished products such as computers, thermostats, and jet engines (basically the chemicals used to make or compose the finished product) is subject to registration as well. Initial REACH compliance obligations began June 1, 2008.

Companies can take advantage of a phase-in registration schedule by pre-registering within a six-month pre-registration window that started on June 1, 2008 and closes on December 1, 2008. If a company imports a substance and does not pre-register, then that substance will be considered a "new substance" in the EU, and it will have to be registered as such immediately or be withdrawn from the EU market. All pre-registered chemicals must be registered over an 11-year period.

Honeywell’s Obligations as a Supplier

A comprehensive program has been established to ensure that the pre-registration, registration and notification requirements of REACH are met for Honeywell products manufactured in or imported into the EU.

Honeywell Suppliers’ Obligations

Honeywell expects all its suppliers to understand and comply with REACH.

	Honeywell suppliers that import or manufacture substances and preparations (mixtures of two or more chemical substances) into the EU must pre-register or register the substances.
	Honeywell suppliers of finished products must assess whether the products contain chemicals classified as "substances of very high concern" (SVHC) in a concentration of more than 0.1% by weight. If this is the case, this information must be communicated to Honeywell. If the total volume of the SVHC exceeds one ton per year this information must be communicated to the European Chemicals Agency.

The European Chemicals Agency is based in Helsinki, Finland. Please access the agency’s website to learn more about REACH: http://ec.europa.eu/echa/reach_en.html