Teleconference Will Interpret New Chemicals Legislation

COLLEGE PARK, Md.—Environmental publisher Raymond Communications will host a 90-minute teleconference on Tuesday, June 5, on REACH (Registration, Evaluation, and Authorization of Chemicals), environmental legislation recently enacted by the European Union.

REACH was approved by the EU Parliament and Council of Ministers in December 2006 and will take effect on June 1, 2007. Under the new legislation, producers of an estimated 30,000 substances will need to submit information about their substances to the European Chemicals Agency (EChA). EChA will require chemical producers to submit a plan to substitute safer alternatives for substances it determines to be dangerous or, if no alternatives exist, a plan for developing them. REACH will impact not only chemical manufacturers but also downstream users and nearly all products manufactured and/or distributed in the EU.