Users of EU Sourced Chemicals | Roles | REACH | REACHReady

As a chemical user you are one of those in the supply chain REACH intends to help - by providing more detailed and complete information about how to use the chemicals you are supplied with. The main thrust of REACH is to protect users and the environment - but this is a bargain, to maximise your benefits you have to engage with REACH and your supplier. Doing so may involve a new or different working relationship; some substances can increase in price and others may be removed from the market altogether.

What you can expect

As a downstream user you can expect that the chemicals you use are REACH compliant, but remember that not all substances may be in scope of the full registration provisions.

Whatever the registration status of the chemicals you use there is still an obligation on your supplier to assess their hazards. They must provide you with detailed information if they are hazardous, in the form of a Safety Data Sheet, which should detail how to use the chemicals safely.

SDS

What you should do

To discharge fully their obligations to you, your suppliers need to know how the chemical is used. You should let them have this information so they can pass it up the supply chain to the registrant. The information does not have to be too detailed and normally there is no problem in terms of business confidential information, but if you are worried or have a particularly secret or sensitive application you really don’t want to share, you can ask our Helpdesk for advice. Our guidance below should also help. Your supplier needs to know who to talk to in your organisation, make sure you have clear lines of communication.

Once you have information from your suppliers you should take it into account to plan your work so that the right precautions are taken. You need to do a workplace risk assessment and put in place any measures to control the risks. You should communicate the information to those at risk, your employees and customers for example.

REACHReady Guidance

REACHReady Guide

Downstream Users

Many Downstream Users (DUs) are concerned about continuity of supply to ensure the stability of their businesses. Our helpdesk receives enquiries from such companies wanting to know what they should be doing to ensure compliance with REACH and in order to protect their business. We have prepared this short guide ...

REACHReady Guide

Communication of Uses

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 ...

Contact us

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