Dec 21 2007
The implementation of the EU's new Regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) is now under way at EU, national, and corporate level. It poses a number of challenges to companies producing chemicals in the EU, as well as those importing or using them.
In Energy & Enviro Finland, issue 19 December 2007, the Finnish REACH experts present their views how to respond to the challenges and to turn them into opportunities.
According to the experts, in response should be utilised the expertise that has been developed through years of investments in health, safety and environment work as well as new research.
In addition, cooperation and networking on all levels – between companies, EU countries and non-EU countries - are more than necessary.
This is due to the fact that the REACH is an EU solution to the problem of chemical safety but it also concerns importers within the EU Community and importing chemicals or articles into the EU area. This calls close cooperation e.g. between the EU and Russia, which is a big chemical trade partner for Finland and the entire EU.
Big Finnish companies operating globally have set up special REACH teams to ensure that their organisations will be REACH compliant. The teams help people responsible for businesses to interpret REACH and develop tools for compliance and to build networks.
Responding to REACH's challenges creates direct and indirect research needs and makes REACH as driver on innovation in Europe and opens new possibilities to boost European competitiveness.
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has highlighted the possibilities that are raised by the REACH. The VTT encourages to respond to the research challenges which the REACH is going to open.
The success, however, depends on the activity of European actors!