On January 20, 2022, the European Commission opened the public consultation period for the revisions of Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH). The REACH regulation outlines the procedures companies must undergo to collect data on the hazards of the chemicals used in their products. Proposed updates to the regulation include the development of a “mixture assessment factor” to address the health effects induced by the combined exposure to several chemicals simultaneously and a simplification of the safety data sheets used to communicate risks through the supply chain. An additional update is a proposed reform of the restriction process through the broader application of the generic risk approach to endocrine disrupting and other classes of chemicals and/or integrating the essential use concept (FPF reported). The public consultation is open until April 15, 2022.
REACH undergoes an evaluation approximately every five years. The last review in 2018 concluded that “REACH is effective” but still had “opportunities for improvement.” An updated REACH regulation is necessary to achieve the targets for a toxic-free, zero pollution Europe as laid out in the European Green Deal (FPF reported) and Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability (FPF reported).
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European Commission (January 20, 2022). “Chemicals legislation – revision of REACH Regulation to help achieve a toxic-free environment.”
