The REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and restriction of Chemicals) regulation was adopted by the European Union (EU) in December of 2006 and took effect June 1, 2007. REACH will have a major impact on U.S. industry. While REACH is a European regulation, it impacts all industries that do business in Europe.

Substances on their own, substances in preparations, and substances intentionally released from articles must be registered before they can be marketed in the EU. Approximately 30,000 existing chemicals are subject to registration and another estimated 1,500 substances of very high concern (SVHCs) may require authorization for use in the EU.

Pre-registration deadline closed December 1, 2008. First time manufacturers or importers can submit a late pre-registration however this does not apply to manufacturers or importers who missed the pre-registration deadline.

Companies that have pre-registered are now in Pre-SIEFs. The objectives of Pre-SIEFs are to determine that all members have the same substance for registration. Once completed, work will begin towards joint registration. For further information on registration AIAG will be offering a course on REACH Registration.

15 substances are subject to the communication and notification requirements under the REACH directive. For further information on this, AIAG is offering a course on SVHC.

Authorization will be the next requirement to be rolled out for the REACH directive. Seven (7) substances from the Candidate List are now being proposed to be added to the Authorization List. Once a substance is added to the Authorization list it will only be a matter of time before they are eliminated from the EU market. The following are the substances proposed for addition to the authorization list::

• 5-tert-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene (musk xylene)
• Alkanes,C10-13,chloro (short chain chlorinated paraffins; SCCPs)
• Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) and all major diastereoisomers identified
• 4,4'-Diamino diphenyl methane (MDA)
• Bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)
• Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) and
• Dibutyl phthalate (DBP)

The public commenting period is open until April 14, 2009.

Please consider:

• Companies that do not comply with REACH will have no market. REACH poses a threat to any company doing business in the EU (and businesses with customers who do business in the EU).
• Business continuity can be adversely impacted by REACH noncompliance and supply chains can be disrupted.
• Companies that understand the business implications and impacts of REACH and develop strategic action plans will gain a competitive edge over those that do not.

In response to the REACH regulation, AIAG has formed an industry consortium to help U.S. manufacturers understand the new requirements; develop tools, processes and best practices; and coordinate compliance efforts.

Five North American sponsoring companies (Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda, and Toyota) provide the funding and leadership for this initiative. In addition, a committee of industry technical experts will lead the development of the program's deliverables that will provide benefit to the industry at large.

The committee is collaborating with colleagues from the automotive industry, as well as supplier associations from the EU, Japan, Korea, Germany and the UK (ACEA, JAMA, KAMA, CLEPA, VDA, and SMMT), and has developed an Automotive Industry Guideline (AIG). The Automotive Industry Guideline is intended to provide practical guidance to downstream users, importers of chemical substances, those who use chemical preparations in their industrial processes, and importers of automotive articles.