Welcome to the August edition of The REACH Centre newsletter. The holiday period is normally a quiet time for companies, but with many deadlines for REACH compliance so pressing it seems that orgnaisations are working overtime to form SIEFs and acquire the necessary data for registration. So far 1190 SIEFs are active and have lead registrants (ECHA link [PDF]). If your SIEF isn’t listed and you need help to find out your next steps, we can help. Find out more about our SIEF and Consortia services.

This month we have also relaunched The REACH Centre website. Due to the expanding amount of new services we are offering a reorganisation was in order to make everything easier to find! You can check it out by clicking here.

In this month’s newsletter, we look at the latest regulatory developments from ECHA and the EU, focus on the new Classification, Labelling and Packaging regulation in the EU, and update you on the latest news from The REACH Centre including our wide range of training courses.

If you have any comments on anything you’d like to see covered in next month’s newsletter, please email me: a.rowntree@thereachcentre.com, or send us a message at twitter.com/thereachcentre.

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is calling for health effects information on the reproductive toxicity of a specific chemical substance by 24 September 2009 (click here for details). This is the first time that this type of public consultation - foreseen by the REACH Regulation – has been made, and ECHA expects to make many such calls about different substances over the coming years.

The aim of the call is to give anyone the opportunity to submit relevant data with a view to make sure that animal testing is only conducted as a last resort when the available information is not sufficient to assess the potentially harmful effects of this chemical on human health or the environment.

Source: ECHA

A revision to Annex VXII of REACH by the European commission was published on 26th June 2009 and came into effect immediately. It deals with restrictions on the use of certain substances and articles where the repeal or amendment of other legislation has left gaps that required a legal vehicle to ensure continuity and consistency. You can access the revision here: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2009:164:0007:0031:EN:PDF.

The German Federal Environment Agency has submitted five dossiers to ECHA for substances it believes should be included on the REACH Candidate List for Authorisation. These substances will be considered for inclusion by ECHA this autumn and the list will be updated early in 2010. The substances concerned are anthracene oils. For more information visit the UBA website.

Substances that are placed on the Candidate List are known as ‘Substances of Very High Concern’ or SVHCs and are subject to immediate controls. There are currently 15 substances on the Candidate List. Environmental and consumer pressure groups have published the ‘SIN’ (Substitute It Now) list of 276 chemicals they believe should be identified as Substances of Very High Concern based on the criteria established by REACH. The SIN list can be viewed here: http://www.chemsec.org/list. These groups are now pushing for the Candidate List to be expanded at a faster rate than currently.

IUCLID5 UPDATE

Version 5.1.1 of the IUCLID software is now available for the standalone and the distributed versions of IUCLID 5. The upgrade can be downloaded free of charge from the ‘Get IUCLID 5’ section of the IUCLID 5 website.

Two new plugins providing new functionalities are also now available for IUCLID 5. The Bulk Export plug-in and the Exchange Literature References plug-ins can both be downloaded free of charge from the same website.

The Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation (Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008) sets out new requirements for the classification, labelling and packaging of chemical substances and mixtures. The Regulation came into force on 20 January 2009 and some requirements impact on businesses immediately whilst others come into effect in the future. The CLP Regulation implements the United Nation’s Globally Harmonised System for the classification and labelling of chemicals (GHS) in the EU.

The aim of GHS regulation is to harmonise communication of hazard information globally in order to facilitate global trade and increase regulatory efficiency. CLP introduces new hazard symbols and labelling phrases, while taking into account elements of the system it replaces in the EU (Dangerous Substances Directive and Dangerous Preparations Directive).

The regulation means companies will have to appropriately classify, label and package their substances and mixtures before placing them on the market. Manufacturers have until 30th November 2010 to propose provisional classifications for pre-registered substances to ECHA. Pure substances will be labelled from that date. The deadline for the classification of mixtures is 31st May 2015.

If you need support understanding or implementing the new CLP regulation, The REACH Centre can help. Click here to visit our CLP services page, or contact us directly for expert advice.

Success for the first module of the Postgraduate Certificate of Competence in REACH Registration.

8 delegates have successfully completed the first module of Lancaster University’s Postgraduate Certificate of Competence in REACH Registration.

The three day course was presented by experts from The REACH Centre, Lancaster University and Hammonds, with the UK Competent Authority for REACH, the HSE (Health & Safety Executive) providing a short presentation covering enforcement. With a longer format for this course delegates were able to explore issues in greater depth and enjoy debate and discussion. The first module introduced REACH in a regulatory and business context looking at the background to REACH, registration processes, SIEFs and IUCLID5.

The next two modules (REACH: Scientific and Technical Foundation and REACH: Application in Practise) still have spaces available, and if you are interested in finding out more about the course, please read this PDF or contact Mark Cooling (m.cooling@lancaster.ac.uk or +44(0)1524 510298)

Dr. Andy Sweetman, a research fellow at Lancaster University and the course director commented that "the course was a great success and very well received by the delegates in attendance. We had a good mix of delegates with varying needs for REACH and we look forward to inviting them back to Lancaster for Module 2 in September."

Chemicals Northwest and The REACH Centre take the ‘REACH Clinic’ on the road

The first session, run from Chemicals Northwest offices in Runcorn, was a great success and six companies benefited from our support. The clinic moves next month to Lancaster Environment Centre, followed by a session at Manchester Science Park in October. You can find out more about the clinics by clicking here.

Training and education surrounding REACH legislation is vitally important to ensure organisations get it right with minimal expense and upheaval. We offer a wide selection of training solutions ranging from REACH workshops through to bespoke programmes.

Bespoke training and webinars

If you cannot travel to our training events, we can travel to you. We offer bespoke training packages and REACH consultancy for companies, and we also offer online REACH training. Find out more at www.thereachcentre.com

The REACH Centre also provides IUCLID5 training tailored to your needs. For more information, please contact Matteo Dalla Valle.

Data Search & Retrieval for REACH Registration

£145 + VAT per person

Dates available (click to book)

Wednesday 25th November 2009, Lancaster Environment Centre

Thursday 25th February 2010, Lancaster Environment Centre

REACH registration requires a vast amount of data to be collected, managed and input to the dossier. Data acquisition can be a time consuming and costly activity. This interactive workshop will give delegates the opportunity to discuss the major issues and learn the most effective ways to search and retrieve the necessary data for REACH registration.

Read more (PDF)

Introduction to CLP

£295 + VAT per person

Dates available (click to book)

Thursday 22nd October 2009, Lancaster Environment Centre

Thursday 11th February 2009, Lancaster Environment Centre

This course is designed to introduce you to the new Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation (Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008) which sets-out the new requirements for the classification, labelling and packaging of chemical substances and mixtures. The Regulation came into force on 20 January 2009 and some requirements impact on businesses immediately whilst others come into effect in the future. The CLP Regulation implements the Globally Harmonised System for the classification and labelling of chemicals (GHS) in the EU.

The course is presented by Andrew Fasey who was a member of the IOMC (Inter-Organisational programme for the sound Management of Chemicals) drafting group which prepared the GHS.

During the day you will have the opportunity to interact with other delegates and the presenter, and discuss issues surrounding the CLP regulation and how to plan for and implement it within your company.

Read more (PDF)

SVHCs and REACH

£145 + VAT per person

Dates available (click to book)

Wednesday 14th October 2009, 9.30am—12.30pm , Lancaster Environment Centre

Wednesday 3rd February 2010, 9.30am—13.30pm , Lancaster Environment Centre

SVHC (Substances of Very High Concern) are a diverse group of substances that have been placed in the candidate list of substances considered for Authorisation by the ECHA because of their particularly hazardous properties. Due to the specific hazards associated with these chemicals REACH imposes controls on them over and above those that apply to standard chemicals.

This workshop will provide chemical users and suppliers of articles with all the information they need to comply with REACH in respect of SVHC and to assess the business and commercial impact of these substances. The day will be kept to a maximum of 20 participants to allow questions and interaction with our REACH specialists.

Read more (PDF)

IUCLID5 for joint registrants

£445 per person

Dates available (click to book)

Thursday 17th September 2009, Lancaster Environment Centre

Thursday 29th October 2009, Lancaster Environment Centre

Tuesday 15th December 2009, Lancaster Environment Centre

The day focuses on hands-on experience in applying IUCLID5 in line with REACH. IUCLID5 (International Uniform Chemical Information Database) is the official tool for data collection in relation to REACH and is essential for those looking to successfully register in line with REACH. The workshop will cover all the main aspects of IUCLID5 and give you the chance to become familiar with the software and how it can be used most effectively.

The workshop is delivered by experienced IUCLID5 trainers. It is limited to 10 participants to provide the optimum interactive experience.

Read more (PDF)

Managing REACH - practical help for potential registrants

£295 per person

Dates available (click to book)

Wednesday 29th July 2009, Lancaster Environment Centre

Wednesday 28th October 2009, Lancaster Environment Centre

This course is a must for anyone who will be potentially registering substances under REACH. With pre-registration over this workshop examines what will happen next, how you should be planning and what is involved throughout the ongoing REACH timeline.

The workshop will address the key issues surrounding registration and hot topics such as SIEF management and communication, IUCLID5, supply chain and data sharing. With an interactive and practical focus delegates will go away having learnt from the experiences of each other and of the presenter; an expert REACH consultant working with government and industrial clients.

A practical look at the REACH-IT and IUCLID5 systems will give delegates a feel for the software and its user applications.

Read more (PDF)

REACH Management for Chemical Users

£295 per person

Dates available (click to book)

Tuesday 29th September 2009, Lancaster Environment Centre

Wednesday 18th November 2009, Lancaster Environment Centre

REACH affects all organisations which use chemicals and these companies have specific compliance responsibilities which need to be understood and managed.

This course provides an opportunity to understand your obligations and discuss / share experiences with other delegates and a senior chemical industry consultant specialising in REACH. You will understand the implications of REACH and be able to effectively communicate and share the correct information with your suppliers.

The day will keep to a maximum of 12 participants to allow questions and interaction.

Read more (PDF)

More dates will be announced soon. You can find the latest courses listed on the training page on our website.

Don’t forget The REACH Centre offers a wide range of REACH services. To find out more, visit our website.