Data is lacking as Reach moves beyond registration

An image showing colourful plastic toys

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Enforcing the demanding rules of Europe’s chemical legislation is keeping regulators and companies on their toes

Two years ago, the chemical industry breathed a collective sigh of relief. 2018 marked the end of the frantic race to register all chemicals produced and imported into the EU and European Economic Area (EEA) under the world’s most comprehensive law of its kind, the Reach (registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals) regulation.

But while the industry regained its breath from passing the ‘R’ checkpoint, Europe moved into the ‘E’ of Reach; a phase that makes it plain that even the most ambitious chemical legislation in the world is only as good as its execution.