30/06/08
REACH places responsibility on industry to manage the risks that chemicals may pose to human health and the environment. The pre-registration phase of REACH started on 1 June and finishes in December.
Under REACH (EU Regulation for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) water companies are mainly ‘downstream users'. They will therefore have to ensure that their suppliers have registered the chemicals they supply for use at water and wastewater treatment works and other operations.
Another implication of this regulation for the water industry relates to manufacture of products. A recent CION paper (2 June) has been useful in supporting our interpretation that sludge used in other ‘products’ – such as biosolids, compost, road-base, aggregate and bricks – are exempt from REACH.
Water UK briefing note on REACH
Contact: Steve Ntifo
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