Regulation (EU) 2021/167, which amends the Enforcement Regulation (654/2014), was adopted on 10 February 2021.
Goods destined for the EU must comply with technical, safety, and labeling standards. Furthermore, consumer products must meet the General Product Safety Directive (2001/95/EC). This directive encompasses:
- general safety requirements
- and specific responsibilities for manufacturers and distributors.These responsibilities include informing consumers about potential risks associated with the product and taking necessary measures to prevent such risks. Moreover, these obligations apply to all professionals involved in the supply chain.
Chemicals and articles are subject to different provisions under REACH. While importing, it’s crucial to either procure an SDS adhering to REACH standards or formulate one.
If you import chemicals to EU, you will have two choices towards REACH compliance: do your own registration or buy products from REACH compliant suppliers. Please find below a few tips to guide you and help you achieve REACH compliance:
Taking Action: Contacting the Only Representative for Supplier Certification
The OECD has compiled a summary of common violations of REACH regulations and associated penalties across European Union member countries. In order to avoid these fines, EU importers should contact the supplier’s representative to secure certification for received items.
Obtaining an REACH Compliant SDS
REACH established SDS sections; now, we must update them to align with the regulation introduced in 2007. Importers should recall obtaining an SDS according to REACH norms or creating one independently.
The First Stage of CLP Compliance: C&L Notification
CLP, which is short for Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 on the Classification, Labeling and Packaging of substances and mixtures, brings the United Nations globally harmonized system (UN GHS) for chemical classification and labeling to Europe. It was put into effect on January 20th, 2009.
Under CLP, importers must notify the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) about the identity, classification, and labeling of substances through a process known as “C&L Notification.” This information is added to a database called the Classification and Labelling Inventory.
Substances under REACH registration or hazardous must notify ECHA by January 3rd, 2011 if on EU market by December 1st, 2011; otherwise, notify promptly.
The most pressing task for importers is to submit C&L notifications to ECHA. We recommend that EU importers submit their own notifications first.
If you need assistance with submitting C&L notifications, please contact us to help you fulfill your obligations under CLP.
