REACH is a new European Union regulation concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals. It came into force on 1st June 2007 and replaces a number of European Directives and Regulations with a single system.

The aim of REACH is to improve the protection of human health and the Environment through the better and earlier identification of properties of chemical substances. The REACH regulation gives greater responsibility to industry to manage the risks from chemicals and to provide safety information on the substances.

REACH applies to substances manufactured or imported into the EU in quantities of 1 tonne per year or more. Generally, it applies to all individual chemical substances on their own, in preparations or in articles (if the substance is intended to be released during normal and reasonably foreseeable conditions of use from an article).

The Howard Smith Group is not required to register as it does not manufacture or import chemical substances, listed under REACH, in quantities greater than 1 tonne per year. It does not manufacture or import substances in preparations or in articles (where the substance is intended to be released) in quantities greater than one tonne per annum.

Where required, for a specific product, we will provide an individual REACH statement from the manufacturer.