REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals) is a huge legislative standardisation for chemicals and raw materials, currently taking shape. The aim is to create one standard system across the whole of Europe and to keep close control on all chemicals used in the EU, as well as to protect people and the environment from unnecessary risks from chemicals.

All chemical substances, which are produced or imported at quantities over one tonne, will need to go through the REACH process, which is currently at the pre-registration stage. The amount of data required for authorisation, and when it needs to happen will depend on the suspected toxicity and the volumes involved. The legislation will be phased in over the next 11 years.

In the screen printing industry, REACH will require both the ink manufacturers and the printers to advise their suppliers (ie. the chemical producer) that they have a use for that chemical, so the chemical producer can make a pre-registration of it. Printers, however, need only do this if they are using more than one tonne of a chemical of particular hazard or which is released during its life (i.e a scratch and sniff ink).

Registration begins in 2010, at which point chemical suppliers must decide whether or not to pay to register their chemicals.

According to Paul Machin, a consultant working for the print specialists trade association Prism, this is when the problems could start, as some producers may be reluctant to pay the testing and registration costs for a chemical if they don't feel it is worth their while.

Cathy Skinner, European marketing assistant at ink manufacturer Fujifilm Sericol, said: "In a competitive environment it has to be acknowledged that some speciality chemicals, supplied in smaller quantities, may simply not be cost effective and will therefore disappear. The implications should not be under estimated: some raw materials may be obsolete and essential formulation changes may impact on products available."

She added: "Printers will almost certainly  have some obligations under REACH as any user of chemicals is responsible for ensuring that they are only used in the defined applications or, to be sure that they follow the ‘exposure scenario' information, which will be provided with the chemical. All chemicals will be supplied with clear and specific information, so no need to dust off the chemistry textbooks!"

Later, said Skinner, as ink manufacturers work with their raw material suppliers to ensure registration of their chemicals they may need to contact printers to ensure that all niche applications of products are included in any registration. 

Printers would be able to view the pre-registration dossier in 2009, said Machin, and he advised them to look at it to make sure any chemicals they are using are included.

Full details about REACH can be found on the Health and Safety Executive website, http://www.hse.gov.uk/, by clicking on the REACH link.

Printer friendly version

Email this article to a friend

Bookmark this

---