REACH is a European Union regulation developed to ensure the health and safety of people and the natural environment from the risks posed by a number of chemicals. This practice enhances the competitiveness of the European Union's chemical sector, while also encouraging alternative methods for hazard assessment of chemicals to reduce the number of animal tests.
In principle, REACH applies to all chemicals. REACH principles apply not only in industrial processes but also in everyday life, for example in cleaning products, paints, garments, furniture and household appliances. Therefore, the REACH regulation has an impact on businesses from many sectors.
In REACH implementation, the obligation to comply with and prove the requirements is given to the enterprises. In order to comply with the REACH guidelines, businesses must identify and manage the risks associated with the products they produce or market in the European Union countries. Businesses are obliged to explain to ECHA how the chemicals used in production are used safely and to communicate the risk management measures to consumers. ECHA, the European Chemical Agency, is an organization that works for the safe use of chemicals in human health and the environment. It supports businesses to comply with specific European Union regulations on chemicals or biocides. In this context, it also helps the enterprises for REACH regulations.
If risks cannot be managed correctly by businesses, the use of chemicals by government agencies may be restricted in different ways. In the long term, the most dangerous substances need to be replaced with less hazardous substances.
REACH stands for English Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals, which means Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals. The REACH application came into force in June of 2007.
Let's talk about how REACH works. REACH consists of the process of collecting and evaluating information on the properties and hazards of use of certain chemicals. Businesses have to register with the chemical substances they use in production and act together with other enterprises that register the same substance. At this point, it is the ECHA (European Chemicals Agency) mentioned above that receives and evaluates individual registration requests. This organization has scientific committees from European Union countries and these committees evaluate chemicals to clarify concerns about human health and the natural environment. The assessment mainly focuses on whether the risks of chemical substances can be managed. If risks are unmanageable, ECHA may prohibit hazardous substances, restrict use, or decide to grant prior authorization.
Before reaching this point, enterprises should have the chemical regulations used in the products tested and analyzed within the framework of REACH regulations. Physico-chemical test programs are applied and toxicological studies are carried out by advanced laboratories to determine the properties of chemical substances. All of these activities are services that support REACH registration.
REACH testing services are an important part of REACH registration activities. The chemical information for the safe use of these tests obtained by manufacturers and importers is recorded in a central database managed by the European Chemical Agency (ECHA).
REACH test results are chemical property data required to meet REACH requirements. This data must be submitted to ECHA in a technical file. This file should not only contain identification of the specific chemical substance of the enterprise, but also the classification and labeling of the substance and the defined physical-chemical, toxicological and ecotoxicological data.
Our company also provides REACH tests within the scope of certification services. Thanks to these services, enterprises are able to produce more efficient, high performance and quality products in a safe, fast and uninterrupted manner.
REACH testing services are just one of the certification services provided by our organization. Many other certification services are provided.