With the final deadline for the EU’s latest regulation on chemical use looming on June 1, dairy companies are being urged to make preparations now and potentially re-evaluate chemical consumption.
REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals) covers all chemicals used on their own or as part of formulas within the EU covering all applications including industrial and consumer sectors.
The aim is for all chemicals imported into the EU or European Economic Area to be registered, tested and authorized by the ECHA (European Chemicals Agency) and is likely to affect businesses of all sizes in almost all industries.
Most chemicals affected
Elaine O’Neill, market manager for surfactants at UK chemical supplier Airedale Chemical said dairy businesses need to ensure continued and smooth-running operations by acting now.
She said while there are a few exceptions in the case of some substances such as waste, radioactive material and those used in the interests of defense, almost everything else is likely to be affected in some way by REACH regulations.
“Some chemical suppliers are likely to decide against applying for REACH approval due to financial or time restraints so it would be a mistake to assume your supplier will be registering the substances you rely on,” O’Neill said.
“Now is the time to check if your supplier intends to continue with its full repertoire of chemicals in order to keep your operations running seamlessly.”
Recommendations
She added investigating the situation now could not only reveal any changes that need to be made, but also allow for potential consolidation or changes to become more economical and streamlined.
The company made a number of recommendations to ensure compliance:
- Ensure chemicals have a registration number where required
- If no number is available, check the ECHA database for registration status
- Check to ensure suppliers have registered regular products and ask for confirmation that it is being handled, or that it is exempt
- Look into formulations not reliant on chemicals affected by REACH