What is REACH?

REACH is a European Union regulation concerning chemicals and their safe use. It came into force on 1st June 2007 and replaced a number of European Directives and Regulations with a single system. REACH has several aims:

  • It aims to improve the protection of human health and the environment through a system of registration, evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of chemicals.
  • To make the people who place chemicals on the market responsible for understanding and managing the risks associated with their use.
  • To enhance innovation in and the competitiveness of the EU chemicals industry.

As a European Regulation REACH applies directly in all 28 Member States of the European Union. It also applies to Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway as member countries of the European Economic Area.

REACH applies to substances manufactured or imported into the EU in quantities of 1 tonne or more per year. Generally, it applies to all individual chemical substances on their own, in preparations or in articles (if the substance is intended to be released during normal and reasonably foreseeable conditions of use from an article).

SJM Alloys and Metals Ltd recognise that the REACH Regulation (EC 1907/2006) is a major development in the protection of people and the environment from the effects of chemicals. We are committed to the aims of this new law and intend to comply fully with its requirements within the timetables set out in the text. We accept that this is our business responsibility, but our approach will be informed by advice from the ECHA – European Chemicals Agency, Cefic – European Chemical Industry Council, REACHReady and others who advise on good practice.

The effective delivery of the tasks required by REACH requires close cooperation between our company, its suppliers and customers. On occasions we may need to work cooperatively with companies who are our competitors. We are committed to developing the new ways of working to deliver what is required and we expect similar standards of cooperation and commitment from others in our supply chains and beyond.

In our company REACH will affect many parts of the business. Overall responsibility is taken by our Managing Director.

Progress on REACH will be monitored by senior management and will be regarded as an indicator of effective performance.

We will ensure our staff are competent by providing training and support for them and where necessary the use of external expert assistance will be employed.

STATEMENT OF SJM ALLOYS AND METALS LTD REACH STATUS