Official preparation to REACH and REACH helpdesks

Since REACH means a completely new regulation of the Chemicals Act in the EU it is in part hard to realise this long and complex provision. This was, of course, also realised by the EU commission and therefore it started with the preparation to REACH already long time before REACH was adopted. Under the keyword REACH Implementation Projects, the so-called RIPs, the EU commission has set various focuses during the preparations:

For the lubricant industry the RIP 3 is most interesting and most important project. It deals with the elaboration of technical guidelines and supports for industry. RIP 3 consists of 10 sub-projects which cover all aspects of REACH valid for industry. The preparation of the registration dossier and the evaluation of substance safety, guidelines with regard to the functionality of the SIEFs, guidelines to determine the identity of substances, support for subsequent users, and other important aspects are part of these projects.

The results of RIP 3 will be integrated in an extensive guideline and support package which will be offered on the agency's homepage. This guideline and support package was published online in part already on 1st June 2007. The online offer shall also include precise measures and check lists which are intended to practically realise the REACH commitments. Unfortunately part of the guidelines and instructions will be available only in the course of the year so that an extensive and final preparation to REACH from the side of the industry is currently not possible.

Besides the overall guideline and support package on the agency's homepage each EU member state will offer the so-called national helpdesks. REACH commits the EU member states to install these additional offers. In Germany the official REACH helpdesk is operated by the "Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin - BauA" (Federal Office for Occupational Protection and Medicine). The helpdesk can be contacted via internet, telephone or fax and offers a large number of helpful information.

Other national and international organisations as well have installed helpdesks and offers: The Umweltbundesamt (Federal Environmental Office), the BDI, the VCI (Association of the chemical industry), the research project REACH - realisation support of the Technical University Darmstadt and Cefic (European Chemical Industry Council), to mention only a few. The internet addresses and the official REACH helpdesks can be found under the heading "Further links and useful information" in our online offer.