Supply Chain Communication | Supply Chain/Uses | REACH | REACHReady

Communicating with suppliers and customers is a key requirement of REACH, whether you are involved in chemicals or articles - or both! On this page you will find more information on what you need to do, together with some ideas to help you get started.

EU suppliers of substances and mixtures

Under REACH the communication requirements for chemical supply chains are twofold:

Safety Data Sheets to convey health, safety and environmental information for hazardous substances

See our webpages on Safety Data Sheets and extended SDS web pages for more information on how REACH has changed the requirements for SDS.

Use information for the purposes of registration

See our webpage on Uses and Exposure Scenarios for more information on the obligations and the options.

Managing communications

In perhaps all but the simplest situations a robust system to manage communication is necessary. For registrations where a small number of registrants and simple supply chains are involved, exchanging emails may suffice; where communication is much wider or more complex you may find a commercial platform, perhaps designed specifically for REACH, is needed.

Many of REACHReady’s Approved Service Providers offer solutions to help manage communications. Why not contact us to find out more?

Keeping information

If you are an EU manufacturer, importer, downstream user or distributor then you must keep available all the information you need to carry out your duties, for at least 10 years after your activity with the substance has stopped. With so much work going into meeting your obligations doubtless there is a lot to be archived.

You may decide to use IUCLID as an electronic filing cabinet for REACH, or you may consider using a commercial solution designed to help you archive information and retrieve relevant parts on demand. REACHReady’s Approved Service Providers can help: simply email us at enquiries@reachready.co.uk to get started.

EU suppliers of articles

Perhaps the most significant communication duty for suppliers of articles is in Article 33 of REACH. It concerns the presence of Candidate List substances in articles above 0.1% by weight.

For more information on Article 33 obligations please see our webpages on the Candidate List and Substances in Articles webpages.

You can call our Helpdesk number on +44 (0) 20 7901 1444. Or e-mail us on enquiries@reachready.co.uk.

Quick Links

For more information on Article 33 obligations please see our webpages on the Candidate List and Substances in Articles webpages.

REACHReady Guidance

Understanding the Safety Data Sheet Changes

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Safety data sheets (SDS) have been around for a long time and they serve as a key communication tool for supply chains. Suppliers provide SDS to industrial and professional users to ensure they have accurate information on hazards, risks and their management; recipients of the SDS use the information to ensure safe use on site, and to prepare their own SDS for any onward supply of chemicals.

Communication in the supply chain

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REACH is complicated enough without customers and suppliers asking questions that are irrelevant, incorrect or unnecessary. This extra administrative work can waste time for everyone, especially as suppliers do not want to appear uncooperative towards their customers.

Communication of uses

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One key aspect of REACH is to improve communication in the supply chain. An increased amount of available information will ensure Downstream Users (DUs) of substances and mixtures have some assurance that how they use those chemicals is appropriate. It will also ensure that suppliers of chemicals do not propose uses that are not fit for purpose.

REACHReady template letters

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Many of our subscribers have asked us to draft letters they can send to their contacts addressing the key questions about responsibilities under REACH and CLP.