REACH and EschmannStahl
What is REACH all about?
REACH stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals. The new EU Chemicals Regulation replaces previous chemicals legislation and has been in force since June 1, 2007 (Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006). The key objective of the new EU chemicals policy is to improve protection of human health and the environment against potential substance risks. Another aim is to maintain and improve the competitiveness of the EU chemical industry. In the future, companies may only manufacture chemical substances or import them into the EU and place them on the market when they have produced evidence of the fact that the substances are safe for people and the environment. For this purpose the manufacturers and importers must have sufficient data on substance properties (physical and chemical properties, properties hazardous to health, behaviour in the environment) and perform a safety assessment for the substance uses and applications.
REACH implementation at EschmannStahl
To prepare for the new legal requirements we are creating a substance inventory, compiling existing information on application and exposure, and establishing the available intrinsic substance data. We work closely together with our suppliers in order to ensure that our raw materials are taken into account under REACH especially be preregistered and registered by them. This also involves providing support for our customers‘ applications. For this purpose we fulfil our responsibility to provide our raw material suppliers with sufficient information for the safety assessments concerning uses of our products. In doing so we endeavour to achieve a standardized, practicable procedure and come to agreement with industrial associations e.g. EUROFER and VDEh. Wherever under REACH we are responsible for pre- and registration of substances as a manufacturer or importer we pre- and register them within the time limits specified by REACH in order to ensure the continuation of deliveries.
How does REACH affect customers of EschmannStahl?
Working together in close partnership with voestalpine, Böhler-Uddeholm and our suppliers, Eschmannstahl is committed to making our customer’s transition into REACH as simple and straight forward as. It provides our customers with planning certainty under REACH as well, plus continuous availability of REACH-compliant products. Ongoing analyses establish the effects of REACH on our products. We inform our customers without delay as soon as relevant changes become apparent. Under REACH as well the safety data sheet remains the most important medium for safety-related information exchange on chemical products. In certain cases it is supplemented by information derived from the safety assessment for the chemical substances contained in the products. Since the registration time limits apply up to 2018 in some cases, part of the information will only be available in several years.
Who can assist you?
With regard to product-specific issues:
We determined a REACH-Manager for every single company, who will assist you with the REACH compliance. Here you find your responsible REACH-Manager:
Hans-Joachim Trübner
Tel: +49 (0)2261/706-221
Fax:+49 (0)2261/706-6221
More information about REACH on the internet:
Website of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and links to the national help desks:
http://echa.europa.eu/
http://echa.europa.eu/reach/helpdesk/nationalhelp_contact_en.asp
