Catalyst

by Harrie Camps, Program Manager Reach/Sabic Europe

It is important to focus on the broader opportunities created by the European Union’s (EU) registration, evaluation and authorisation of chemicals (Reach) program, rather than linger on its challenges, and this is what we have been doing at Sabic. We believe that the EU chemical industry only stands to benefit from a single regulatory system for new and existing chemicals. Reach will encourage our industry to innovate, either by replacing potentially harmful substances with suitable alternatives, or by dramatically reducing the risk posed by the use of these chemicals.

Because Reach mandates that all chemical substances in the EU be comprehensively documented, knowledge and expertise regarding these substances will increase, for the benefit of society as a whole. And since the legislation also covers chemicals that are imported into the EU, Reach will have a positive impact on the wider global market.

Taking a Pragmatic Approach  

At Sabic, we fully endorse the Reach objectives. As a responsible manufacturer and importer of chemicals, we care for the health and safety of people and the environment, and compliance with Reach is merely a logical step in the process. Yet we also see Reach as a serious business topic and as such, we have been pragmatic in our approach to the new regulations. We have assembled a professional corporate Program Management Office (PMO) to centrally guide the timely delivery of high-quality dossiers for all our products. Although independent from business and Safety, Health and Environment functions, the PMO aims to cover both needs. To help our team achieve on-time registration, we recently signed a four-year strategic partnership with TNO, a highly respected scientific research institute. With the right people and processes in place, we feel we are well placed to meet the necessary goals outlined by Reach.

As with any new legislation, it is important that companies take the right approach to ensure that they are in the best position to implement the changes, minimize the impact on the business and to keep ahead of the competition. By working with a third-party, such as TNO, who have the expertise and knowledge to help shape the approach, companies can put themselves into the best possible position to react to the changes.

Sharing is the Key to Success 

To help lessen the burden of animal testing the Reach regulation mandates that all producers and importers of a chemical substance should work together by sharing toxicology data and jointly submitting dossiers. Beyond its humane spirit this requirement also offers a clear financial benefit to producers as the expense of testing can be shared among groups of substance producers.

Sabic has already joined pre-consortia groups of producers established by the European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic) through its sector groups and will be openly sharing Reach-related knowledge and best practices with others-and the sharing doesn’t need to stop there.

At conferences and via industry networks, companies have the opportunity to discuss and compare relevant work processes with each other. In addition, Sabic is committed to using other forms of communication, such as our website and newsletters to share information on the progress of the substance registration process with customers and other stakeholders alike.

But why is sharing so important? The scope of the Reach legislation is so complex–and its impact so large–that cooperation is the surest way to produce the best results. By working together, the industry and authorities will increase their knowledge and expertise regarding chemical substances, and contribute to a healthier future for our children and our planet.