Equipment

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has published a list on its website of almost 40,000 chemicals that have been pre-registered under the Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals (Reach) legislation two months before the deadline.

The ECHA said the list of 37,768 substances would allow users of chemicals in the packaging industry to see whether substances they might be considering using are already pre-registered.

If they do not appear, ECHA advises users to remind their suppliers that companies can only benefit from the extended registration deadlines of 2010, 2013 or 2018 if they have pre-registered their substances, such as acids, metals, solvents, surfactants and glues, by 1 December 2008.

"Firms that do not pre-register a chemical cannot continue manufacturing or importing it after 1 December until they make a full registration with the ECHA and pay the registration fee," warned ECHA.

All chemicals of one tonne or more that have been made in or imported into the EU must be pre-registered with the ECHA by 1 December to comply with Reach legislation.

The final list required by Reach will be published by 1 January 2009 and will cover substances pre-registered from 1 June to 1 December 2008.

Click here for details of the pre-registered list.