REACH – Prior approval system to use chemicals starts February 2013
The use and marketing of certain dangerous chemicals will (for the first time) be subject to the first elements of a prior approval system as early as February 2013.
- This system known as Authorisation under REACH requires companies using listed chemicals to apply to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) in order to continue to use or sell them on the European market.
- Companies that do not apply for an authorisation will have to substitute these chemicals with safer alternatives and phase-out their use.
- Applications must be submitted by a certain date which is outlined in the Regulation. The first of these dates is 21st February 2013.
Those chemical substances that will require an Authorisation application in 2013 are listed on Annex XIV of REACH.
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