REACH

The European Union's chemical regulation - REACH – came into effect on June 1, 2007, and will be fully implemented on June 1, 2018. The purpose of REACH is to ensure a high level of protection of human health and the environment, while enhancing competitiveness and innovation. This Regulation should also promote the development of alternative methods for the assessment of hazards of substances. REACH covers substances on their own and in mixtures. Articles are within the scope if there is an intended release of a substance or mixture during normal use or if the article contains a substance from the Candidate List, which is a continuously updated list of hazardous substances. IATC’s handling of REACH. IATC will comply with the requirements in REACH and ensure that customers and suppliers are informed to the extent necessary about chemicals in our products. IATC’ facilities in EU does not manufacture nor import chemicals, oils and metals for re-melting from countries outside the EU. Chemicals used at IATC’ facilities in EU are used according to the use identified by the supplier/manufacturer. IATC is to be regarded as a downstream user in terms of REACH.

If you are a customer to IATC

IATC will inform customers as required by REACH of any presence of substances from the Candidate List in our products in a concentration above 0.1% (w/w). Our customers can ask IATC about the presence of substances from the Candidate List in delivered products and we aim to answer such requests within 15 days. Inquiries from customers must be directed to the IATC sales office where products are bought. Inquiries can also be directed to the IATC REACH helpdesk at REACH@iatc-europe.com.

If you are a supplier to IATC

Suppliers are responsible for ensuring registration of all substances supplied to IATC. If the registration is not performed in due time, the substance cannot be sold in EU until the complete registration dossier is approved by ECHA (European Chemicals Agency, Helsinki). EU producers/importers must register substances on their own, or join a SIEF (Substance information Exchange Forum). Non-EU suppliers have the possibility to appoint an “Only Representative” which takes over all registration obligations. IATC’ use of substances must be included in the supplier registration dossier to REACH. Suppliers must ensure that the delivered articles do not contain any substances from the Candidate List. Inquiries and information from suppliers must be directed to the IATC procurement department buying your products or substances. Inquiries can also be directed to the IATC REACH helpdesk at: REACH@iatc-europe.com.

News from EU

Six substances of very high concern will be banned

Banned

Six substances of very high concern will be banned within the next three to five years unless an authorisation has been granted to individual companies for their use. These substances are carcinogenic, toxic for reproduction or persist in the environment and accumulate in living organisms. Operators wishing to sell or use these substances will need to demonstrate that the required safety measures have been taken to adequately control the risks, or that the benefits for the economy and society outweigh the risks. Where feasible alternative substances or techniques exist, a timetable for substitution will also have to be submitted. Today’s Commission decision follows the successful first phase of registration and notification of chemicals (see IP/10/1632, IP/11/2). It is part of REACH, Europe’s initiative to make the use of chemicals safer. European Commission Vice President Antonio Tajani, responsible for industry and entrepreneurship said: “Today’s decision is an example of the successful implementation of REACH and of how sustainability can be combined with competitiveness. It will encourage industry to develop alternatives and foster innovation." Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik said: "Chemicals are everywhere in the modern world and some of them can be very dangerous. Today's decision is an important step towards better protecting our health and the environment." Six substances of very high concern have today been moved from the candidate list to the authorisation list, known as Annex XIV, under the EU's REACH regulation (Regulation No 1907/2006 for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals). Substances in Annex XIV cannot be placed on the market or used unless authorisation has been granted for a specific use. The adopted measures constitute a first step in the implementation of the authorisation requirement laid down in the REACH Regulation. It is part of an ongoing process whereby additional substances will be added to Annex XIV in the future. The objective is to ensure that the risks from substances of very high concern are properly controlled and that these substances are progressively replaced by economically and technically viable alternatives. To that end, the Commission aims to put forward a greater number of known substances of very high concern for inclusion in the candidate list (see IP/10/360). The Commission and the European Chemicals Agency are fully committed to achieve this goal with the active engagement of the Member States. The following 6 chemicals are the first entrants in the Annex XIV: 5-ter-butyl-2,4,6-trinito-m-xylene (musk xylene), 4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane (MDA), hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD), bis(2-ethylexyl) phthalate (DEHP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP).

UK Enviroment Agency

News from UEA. The Eviroment Agency.

Carbon Capture and Storage

This page gives a brief description of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology and our role in its development. Fossil fuel power stations are responsible for about one third of UK carbon dioxide emissions, and CCS could reduce those emissions by as much as 90 per cent. The technology involves three elements: Capturing carbon dioxide emissions from power stations and other industrial sources. Transporting it by pipeline or ship to storage sites. Storing it permanently underground in geological structures such as depleted oil and gas fields or saline aquifers. The government programme to implement CCS involves building four commercial scale demonstration plants during 2010 to 2020 and planning for wider deployment from 2020 onwards. The European Commission is also funding a similar programme. Our role. Environmental Permitting Regulations (EPR) We regulate the environmental impacts of large fossil fuel power stations by issuing EPR permits that cover the emissions of all substances, except carbon dioxide. Any power station that installs CCS technology will have the details included in its permit. Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) Regulations We and the Health and Safety Executive are joint regulators for the COMAH Regulations which may apply to some CCS processes at power stations. EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EUETS) We issue an EUETS permit to power stations and energy intensive industrial installations that covers the releases of carbon dioxide. From January 2013 operators of carbon dioxide capture, transport and storage activities must have an EUETS permit. Carbon Capture Ready (CCR) We advise the Government on new applications to build power stations to ensure that they are carbon capture ready and could install CCS at a later date.