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Feature: STN - Reliable data for REACH compliance
Many manufacturers and importers are learning that REACH legislation will have large impacts on business conducted in Europe. This article describes how STN can help you meet the informational challenges and opportunities presented by REACH. What is REACH?REACH is a European Community Regulation on chemicals and their safe use. It deals with the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemical substances. REACH requires the registration of approximately 30,000 chemical substances produced in or imported into the European Union (EU). REACH collects information for use in the regulation of chemicals including carcinogens, mutagens, teratogens, and other potentially hazardous substances and identifies risk management measures to ensure their safe use. Who is impacted by REACH?Manufacturers and importers are responsible for gathering and registering information on the properties of their chemical substances, identifying the measures needed to manage risks, and providing safety information on the substances. Registration is mandatory before a new chemical can be marketed and to keep an existing chemical on the market. The extent of the information required for each chemical depends on the volume of the chemical produced or imported. When is REACH being implemented?REACH legislation is being phased in over an 11-year period. Companies have until December 1, 2008, to pre-register qualifying substances. Pre-registration gives companies up to 10 years to complete the full registration process while continuing to market their products. The deadline for full registration depends on the volumes and, in some cases, the hazard rating of the substance. Higher hazard and volume substances must be registered by December 2010, moderate volume substances by June 2013, and low volume substances by June 2018. How STN databases can helpSTN databases cover a wide scope of data that companies can use to comply with REACH requirements. Extensive information is available on substances chemical and physical properties, hazards and safe use data, toxicity data, and the impact of chemicals on the environment.
Key STN databases that contain extensive information required by REACH.*
* This table highlights only some of the STN databases that contain extensive information required by REACH legislation. Other databases can provide valuable, industry-specific information. How the STN Service Centers can helpThe Help Desk at your STN Service Center is available to assist you with STN searching and query design. The Help Desk can also provide additional information and resources for your STN searching needs. In addition, Science IP (The CAS Search Service) and the Search Service at FIZ Karlsruhe can help you collect the required data for REACH. Both are staffed with experienced researchers who can provide you and your organization with high-quality information retrieval in many areas of science. Whether you choose to research substances yourself or enlist the assistance of a search service, the information available in STN's substance and bibliographic databases can help facilitate your organization's compliance with REACH regulations.
More information about STN databases is available at www.cas.org and www.stn-international.de. More information about REACH can be found at ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/reach/reach_intro.htm. Updated: 9/29/2008 4:09:59 PM
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