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16 Sep 2008 / 18 Sep 2008  -  Belgium

REACH Europe 2008

The 3rd International Conference on the European Commission’s Policy on the Regulation, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals - REACH Europe 2008 - will be held from 16 to 18 September 2008 in Antwerp, Belgium.

REACH, (Regulation, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals) is one of the most important pieces of Producer Responsibility legislation to impact the European chemical industry and its supply chains. The legislation not only has major ramifications for chemical manufacturers, it also affects materials formulators and even end users of chemical products. REACH is changing the way many chemical products are manufactured and used and the legislation is likely to mean that some critical specialty materials will no longer be available. Complying with the requirements of REACH will be a costly and time-consuming exercise.

Smithers Rapra Technology is organising its third international conference on REACH to take place 15 months after the adoption of the policy and to coincide with the pre-registration phase of the legislation. This conference will provide an opportunity to assess the current status of the regulations and to learn from a wide range of organisations just how the regulations are working and what actions industry has taken to ensure compliance.

REACH has not only affected the European chemical industry and its supply chains; it also has serious implications for companies that manufacture and export chemicals preparations and articles to the EU. The ability to comply with the requirements of REACH is therefore critical for many global organisations.

The REACH Europe 2008 conference in Antwerp is being specifically developed to inform all those impacted by REACH of the current status of the legislation and the developing requirements to enable REACH compliance in the most cost effective and efficient manner possible.

Key themes will include:
Has REACH impacted the competitiveness of the EU chemicals industry?
Has there been a disproportionate burden on SMEs?
Has REACH proved a barrier to innovation?
What testing is required and how is this being exchanged and submitted?
Will REACH provide the basis for other similar legislation outside Europe?

Papers are invited on:
Overviews on what the legislation covers and what it means in practice for industry
How REACH is operating and evolving
REACH – testing requirements and protocols
Impact of REACH on polymers and products using them
Effect of REACH on the supply of chemicals in the EU and globally
Cost of implementing REACH in the industry, reformulation challenges etc
Data sources, capture, sharing and submission
Market surveys of the effect of the legislation on material and chemical supplies
Case studies highlighting specific approaches being taken to implement REACH
Materials substitution issues and opportunities
Green chemistry approaches to REACH both in the EU and globally
Assessments of REACH’s impact on the chemical industry and its supply chains
Management and administrative systems for dealing with REACH
Experiences of working towards pre-registration
RIPs and working with the European Chemicals Agency
Presenting authors at REACH Europe 2008 will be entitled to free registration on both days of the conference including meals, refreshments and a copy of the proceedings.

Source : Smithers Rapra