The European Chemical Regulation REACH (1907/2006/EG) was enforced on June 1st 2007 and applies also to metals, alloys, and articles made from them. REACH stands for Registration, Evaluation, and Authorisation of CHemicals. The regulation imposes extensive duties on producers, importers, and users of metals that are based in the European Union or the European Economic Area and strengthens the rights of consumers. Producers and importers of metals have to register these at the European Chemical Agency (ECHA) in Helsinki if volumes exceed 1 tonne per year. The requirements for testing metals and providing information increase incrementally from 10 to 100 and then to 1,000 tonnes per year. In addition, these depend on the toxicity and the environmental behaviour of the metals. Only materials that have been pre-registered by December 1st 2008 may benefit from extension of the registration phase which goes until 2010, 2013, or 2018. In the case of first manufacture or first import, substances that are not yet pre-registered, may even now enjoy a postponed registration deadline.

REACH requests a joint registration by all parties that handle a specific metal. This shall be performed by a Lead Registrant. It has been noted that the number of companies that have enrolled to the Substance Information Exchange Fora (SIEFs) exceeds expectations by far.

Dr. Ihme GmbH takes particular care that products offered meet the REACH requirements. This means, among other things, that either Dr. Ihme GmbH performs mandatory registrations itself or that registrations will be performed by our suppliers. In addition, we would be happy to advise our customers if they intend to carry out a registration by themselves.