HSENI launches initiative on REACH

The Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland (HSENI) has launched a campaign to promote compliance with the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) in Northern Ireland (NI).

The REACH Regulation came into force on 1 June 2007 to replace a number of other pieces of legislation with a single system.

REACH is aimed at understanding potential chemical hazards and managing their risks to protect humans, animals, and the environment. Thus, no chemicals without health and safety data should be placed on the market.

The objective of HSENI`s initiative is to ensure REACH Regulation duties are understood and fulfilled within the NI market.

The campaign includes visits to businesses across Northern Ireland to measure compliance with the REACH Regulation, these involve for instance:

• Manufacturers - producing or extracting chemical substances,
• Importers – responsible for import of chemicals to NI,
• Downstream users - blending chemical substances or using chemicals to produce articles.

Meetings with duty holders will discuss areas such as:

• Types and quantity of chemicals used by the companies,
• Registration duties,
• Authorisation duties,
• Correct labelling,
• Control measures,
• Requirements on downstream users,
• Other duties under REACH.

The visits will result in improved understanding of current supply chains and usage of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) in Northern Ireland. The campaign will be concluded through providing additional information to answer questions that may arise during visits to assist duty holders to secure REACH compliance.

Further information can be found at the following links: Chemicals, CLP (Classification, Labelling and Packaging), COSHH, REACH

Notes to editors: 

1. The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) is an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body, sponsored by the Department for the Economy (DfE).
2. REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 is the European Union regulation concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and restriction of Chemicals.  
3. CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 is the European Union regulation concerning the Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Chemicals.
4. COSHH means the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002.
5. For media enquiries please contact HSENI Press Office on 028 9024 3249 or email media@hseni.gov.uk. For out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer on 028 9037 8110.

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