European Union (EU) Information Page
REACH - Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemical substances
How does REACH affect Hong Kong traders and manufacturers?
REACH is a European Community Regulation on chemicals and their safe use. It deals with the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemical substances. The Regulation entered into force on 1 June 2007 while most of its provisions in particular those that may affect Hong Kong has applied in phases starting from 1 June 2008.
REACH introduces an obligation to register with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) every chemical substance or mixture, whether manufactured in or imported into the EU in quantities exceeding one tonne per year per company. Substances in articles (e.g., toys, textiles and clothing, electrical appliances, photographic and other chemical-using products) that are intended to be released are also subject to the same requirement. The use and placing on the market of substances of very high concern (SVHC, i.e. substances that are carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction (CMR); persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT); or very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB); and substances that may cause serious effects to human or the environment) will require authorisation. Notification is also required for SVHC present in the articles.
Hong Kong suppliers of chemicals or suppliers of articles containing substances subject to the provisions of the Regulation, whether as manufacturers or exporters, may be required to provide information to assist their EU importers in the preparation of registration, authorisation or notification. The information may include the use of substance and chemical safety report.
For details, please refer to the relevant Commercial Information Circulars and the website of ECHA.
Legislative Text
Implementation Timeline
Pre-registration (from 1 Jun to 1 Dec 2008)
- Commercial Information Circular No. 301/2008 - Pre-registration of REACH
- List of Pre-registered Substances under REACH