REACH Implementation Plan Launched
August 25, 2006 -- The European Union's chemicals policy, REACH, will receive second reading in the European parliament in October and is expected to become law in 2007. The Nickel Institute has therefore launched a plan that will facilitate the effective and efficient implementation of REACH for nickel producers, importers and users.
There are four main phases to the implementation process:
- the preparatory phase,
- pre-Registration,
- Registration and
- Authorisation.
The preparatory phase focuses on clarifying the status of the products falling under REACH and on the formation of consortia. In July, members of the Nickel Institute, which represent about 85% of global primary nickel production, responded to a questionnaire defining the substances, ores and concentrates, intermediates and metal produced and imported into the EU. They were invited to join voluntary consortia as of January 1, 2007.
REACH will have an impact on all the producers or importers of materials containing nickel. Through the organisation of voluntary consortia, the Nickel Institute anticipates that the different actors involved in REACH, such as the producers, importers (Nickel Institute members and non-members) and the downstream users will act collaboratively.
Due to the high volumes involved, all the nickel producers in or importers into the EU will have to comply with the REACH obligations within a 3-year period.
Any nickel producer or importer, which has not received a questionnaire from the Nickel Institute and is interested in joining the activities for complying with REACH, is invited to contact us.
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
France Capon
EU Policy Officer
European Nickel Industry Association (ENIA)
A Division of the Nickel Institute
Sixth Floor
Avenue des Arts 13
Brussels 1210
Belgium
E-mail:capon@euronickel.org
Tel: 32 2 290 3200
