ACEA

REACH has significant implications for the European automotive industry

REACH, the legislation on Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of CHemicals has replaced some 40 legislative texts with a single regulation, requiring importers and manufacturers of chemicals to provide health and safety data for some 30,000 substances used in everyday products. These products range from plastics used in computers and mobile phones to substances used in textiles, paints, furniture, toys and cleaning products. All chemicals must be registered over an 11-year period within the chemicals agency ECHA in Helsinki.

As chemicals are used in vehicles, REACH also does affect the European automotive industry:

• The auto industry – as a so-called ‘down-stream user’ of chemical materials - has to make sure that all chemicals used in cars comply with the new rules and registration requirements. If a vehicle carries substances on which the necessary REACH data is not available, it cannot be sold, registered or imported to the EU. This is often called “No data, no market”.


• Industry must intensify communication throughout the supply chain, from the chemical industry to the vehicle manufacturers.


• Under REACH, Member States can propose to consider certain chemicals as substances of very high concern. This may lead to the limited use and also to the phase out of certain substances, for which alternative technical solutions need to be found. One of the substances currently under consideration is DEHP, a so-called 'plasticizer' to determine certain properties of plastics.


• REACH should help to make sector specific material restrictions obsolete.

Automotive Task Force on REACH coordinates sector’s response

The European car manufacturers have investigated the precise consequences of REACH and worked towards an effective implementation in close cooperation with the automotive suppliers and American, Japanese and Korean vehicle manufacturer associations.

A REACH task force has developed a guideline for the member companies and recommended standardised communication within the supply chain, which has become a standard within the automotive industry. This has enabled effective communication between manufacturers and suppliers and ensured early warning if difficulties occur. The REACH Task Force continues to follow closely the further implementation of the new chemicals legislation, and maintains a close exchange with political and other industry stakeholders.

• Automotive Industry Guideline on REACH
  

last updated 23/06/2009

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