As per June 2007, the European Union’s REACH Regulation reformed chemicals legislation in Europe, thus providing for the safe handling of chemicals from production to disposal. Regulation [REGULATION (EC) No 1907/2006] governs the registration, evaluation, authorization and restriction of chemicals. REACH affects all players in the supply chain – from manufacturers, processors and traders to end users of chemical substances. It applies to virtually all chemical substances (as such or in preparations), irrespective of whether they have hazardous properties or not. Products are only affected by REACH if they release substances or contain substances causing particular concern.

Registration of substances at LANXESS
LANXESS submitted all necessary pre-registration information to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) in time for the December 1, 2008 deadline. Before the November 2010 deadline of phase I, dossiers for more than 190 substances were then submitted to the ECHA.

Another 250 chemical substances from the LANXESS portfolio have to be registered by May 2013 in phase II. In total, the specialty chemicals company expects to prepare dossiers for around 750 substances and submit them to the ECHA by the end of all three phases in May 2018.

Overview of registration deadlines for REACH

November 30, 2010 (phase I):

•     Substances in volumes    ≥ 1,000 metric tons/year
•     Hazardous substances      ≥ 100 metric tons/year
•     CMR substances*        ≥ 1 metric ton/year

May 31, 2013 (phase II):

•     Substances in volumes of 100 to 1,000 metric tons/year

May 31, 2018 (phase III):

•     Substances in volumes of 1 to 100 metric tons/year
  

* CMR: carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic