REACH in the clothing retail sector*

August 2007

The EU regulation on Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH) entered into force on 1 June 2007. Much of the responsibility for REACH will lie with “producers” which, for the purpose of the regulation, include EU manufacturers and importers into the EU.

The most significant obligations will rest with the chemicals manufacturers but some responsibility, which will be influenced by a business’s products and business activities, will also lie with other producers and downstream users of chemicals or importers of products containing chemicals.

Over 10 years, from 2008, it is estimated that at least 30,000 chemicals will be subject to registration and further evaluation and, for some, to authorisation and restriction.