Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals

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Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006

European Union regulation
Title	Regulation concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), establishing a European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
Made by	European Parliament and Council
Made under	Art. 95 (EC)
Journal reference	L396, 30.12.2006, pp. 1–849
History
Date made	18 December 2006
Came into force	1 June 2007
Preparative texts
Commission proposal	COM 2003/0644 Final
EESC opinion	C112, 30.4.2004, p. 92 C294, 25.11.2005, pp. 38–44.
CR opinion	C164, 2005, p. 78
EP opinion	17 November 2005 13 December 2006
Other legislation
Replaces	Reg. (EEC) No 793/93 Reg. (EC) No 1488/94 Dir. 76/769/EEC Dir. 91/155/EEC Dir. 93/67/EEC Dir. 93/105/EEC Dir. 2000/21/EC
Amends	Dir. 1999/45/EC
Amended by	Reg. (EC) No 1272/2008
Current legislation

Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) is a European Union regulation dating from 18 December 2006.^[1] REACH addresses the production and use of chemical substances, and their potential impacts on both human health and the environment. Its 849 pages took seven years to pass, and it has been described as the most complex legislation in the Union's history^[2] and the most important in 20 years.^[3] It is the strictest law to date regulating chemical substances and will affect industries throughout the world.^[4] REACH entered into force on 1 June 2007, with a phased implementation over the next decade. The regulation also established the European Chemicals Agency, which manages the technical, scientific and administrative aspects of REACH.