Securing access to the EU market requires manufacturers and users to demonstrate the “safe use” of substances, mixtures and products. “Safe use” (i.e., controlled risks) needs to be demonstrated for human populations and the different environmental compartments.
A series of legislations exist to ensure the protection of human health and the environment, imposing information requirements, risk assessments & management and communication duties that need to be fulfilled to gain and retain access to the EU market.
The most prominent examples include the REACH and CLP Regulations that entered into force in 2007 and 2008 respectively.
From January 2027 onwards, new EU hygiene requirements will also come into force for materials and products in contact with drinking water. Under this new system, any new products placed on the market must be manufactured using materials/starting compositions that appear on the EU Commission’s positive lists and must hold an EU conformity certificate.
The Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability in 2020 and the Zero Pollution Ambition for a toxic free environment also provide overall frameworks to restrict the production and use of the most hazardous substances in the EU.
The non-ferrous metals industry has dedicated substantial resources to registering their chemicals under REACH and implementing the resulting risk management programmes, in REACH but also under OSH, products and environmental legislation (see the policy interlinkage diagram).
European Metals monitors the developments of market-access legislations, represents the sector in the relevant regulatory discussions as regular stakeholder and sets up capacity-building programs and platforms to support its members.
We also develop the necessary guidance and tools enabling our members to fulfil their compliance obligations while considering metal specificities.
All the information on REACH, CLP and Batteries (chemicals management aspects) can be found on the REACH Metals Gateway: https://www.reach-metals.eu/
verbrugghe@european-metals.eu and verougstraete@european-metals.eu and iaccino@european-metals.eu
