The challenge
The EU Commission proposal for a new European chemicals regulation will change the structure of costs and markets of companies. Users of chemical substances will be assigned more responsibilities for the prevention of health and environmental risks. They will be obliged to provide, assess and document risk-related information on the used products and to forward that information along the supply chain. It will become important to cultivate good communication about risk management measures along the chemicals supply chains.


Chances and risks of the New European Chemicals Policy (REACH)

The concrete impacts of REACH on businesses can be identified. Adapted risk management instruments can help, to profit of chances and prevent risks, for example:

• A rising demand for safe chemicals (e.g. construction materials, products for households or handycrafts) may create new markets
• Service offers and more intense cooperation with clients may provide new business fields by selling solutions instead of chemical products
• Certain hazardous substances will have to be substituted in the future. Far-sighted action enables long-term planning of product and process innovations
• Liability risks can be reduced by thourough risk assessments and appropriate documentation.
  

Service offer

With view to its direct contribution to the discussion process on the chemicals policy at European level and a long-term expertise in the assessment of chemicals risks, Oekopol supports enterprises and industry associations in a proactive analysis of the upcoming requirements. Oekopol provides substantial assistance for companies in understanding the new requirements and implementing the new tasks in the company management and processes.

Examples for such consulting services are:

• Provision of information on the new requriments of the new chemicals regulation (REACH), workshops and strategic consulting for industry assosiations or specific value chains
• trategic consulting for new orientation along the supply chain - What does the new chemicals policy mean form y company - What are future roles and responsibilities? Which changes are certain, for which is the discussion still ongoing? How can my company best (most efficiently) prepare for RECHA? Which costs are to be expected? What do the transparency rules mean in practice?
• Support in preparing inventories of chemical input materials, in the identying critical products, critical uses or critical information gaps from the perspective of the new chemicals regulation. Assessment of safety data sheet and data collection at suppliers and clients
• Adaptation and introduction of IT-tools for the inventarisation and evaluation of substance-related risks, identification of substances that should be substituted, support in comparative assessment of substances
• Concepts and trainings for integrating the new task "chemical product safety" in company policy and management routines.
  

References:
Guidance for the implementation of a successful risk management under REACH. Commissioned by: German Federal Environmental Agency (UBA). In co-operation with Sofia, 2006

Techno-economic support to the proposed REACH legislation. Commissioned by European Commission DG Env., Brussels, 2005-2007

Emission estimation tool within the REACH system. Commissioned by: German Federal Environmental Agency. In co-operation with Öko-Institut, 2004 - 2006

Chemicals in products in REACH: Conversion of the registration and notification of chemicals in products under the REACH regulation. Commissioned by the Federal Environmental Agency, Germany, 2005 - 2006

RIP 3.8: TGD on fulfilling the requirements for articles under REACH. Commissioned by the European Commission DG Env., Brussels, 2005 - 2006. In co-operation with: DHI, DTC, UBA Austria and Germany, Environmental Agency Norway and Danmark, Kemi Sweden, 2005-2006

RIP 3.5-1: Technical guidance for downstream users, scoping study. Commissioned by by the European Commission DG Env.. In co-operation with DTC, DHI, RPA, BRE and BEF, 2005.