Coatings World - January 2013

REACH Requirements for Downstream Communication
of Safety Information Challenges Coatings Sector

Coatings formulators and their downstream users must deal with the requirement to communicate as precisely and comprehensively

as possible
all relevant
by Sean Milmo
European Correspondent
smilmo@rodmanmedia.com
safety date
on registered
chemicals in
formulations.

The European Union’s controversial REACH legislation on the safety of chemicals has been challenging chemical producers and their raw material suppliers since it came into effect five years ago.

Initially the major concern was that REACH—the registration, evaluation and authorisation of chemicals—would lead to market withdrawals of key chemicals for some coatings producers because of the cost of gathering safety data for their registration.

The final number of chemicals being taken off the market may not be clear until after 2018 when the registration process under REACH, which is being done in three phases, is due to be completed.

Now coatings formulators and their downstream users are having to deal with an even bigger anxiety under REACH – the requirement to communicate down the supply chain as precisely and comprehensively as possible all relevant safety data on registered chemicals in formulations.

The main vehicle for conveying the safety information to users will be through expanded safety data sheets (SDS). These will include ‘ exposure scenarios’ describing how a substance or mixture of chemicals may be safely handled to ensure that exposure to them does not adversely affect human health and the environment.

Over 30,000 chemicals – a large proportion of them used in coatings – will have to be registered with safety profiles under REACH with some of the most hazardous being subject to special authorization. The obligation for downstream communication should result in Europe having one of the world’s best