The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is urging businesses to check with their suppliers to ensure that all chemical substances critical to their operations will be registered by the final Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) registration deadline in 2018. By May 31, 2018, companies that manufacture or import chemicals in low volumes between 1 and 100 tonnes per year in the EU, Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein are required to register them with ECHA. Companies must also gather all available information about the properties of the substances and update associated safety data sheets. ECHA is urging businesses to take action now to help avoid interruptions to their chemical supply.

ECHA further suggests that businesses check to see if their chemical uses will be covered in the REACH registration, particularly if they use substances in a novel way.

“Users of chemicals have the right to inform suppliers on their uses so that they are covered in the registration,” ECHA’s website states. “This helps to ensure your use is covered in the exposure scenarios you receive later on.”

ECHA’s press release includes a list of resources for downstream chemical users.

REACH is the EU regulation that aims to improve the protection of human health and the environment from chemical risks. Under REACH, companies must identify and manage the risks linked to the substances they manufacture and market in the EU.