Introduction to Health and Safety at Work

f) Authorization
Industry must gain Community-wide authorizations for the 
use of substances considered to be of very high concern. 
These are substances that are identifi ed as carcinogenic, 
mutagenic or toxic to reproduction (CMRs); persistent, 
bioaccumulative and toxic substances (PBTs); substances 
that are very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvBs); 
and substances demonstrated to be of equivalent con-
cern, such as endocrine disruptors.
g) Restrictions
The Regulation enable restrictions of use to be introduced 
across the European Community where this is shown to 
be necessary. Member States or the Commission may 
prepare such proposals.
h) Information exchange
Manufacturers and/or importers should develop risk 
reduction measures for all known uses of the chemical 
including downstream uses. Downstream users should 
provide detail of their uses to their suppliers. In cases 
where downstream users decide not to disclose this infor-
mation, they need to produce their own CSR.
i) European Chemicals Agency
The Regulations create a European Chemicals Agency 
(ECHA) for managing the technical and administrative 
aspects of the REACH system at Community level. Work 
is underway to establish this central co-ordinating body, 
which will be operational in 2008, and will be based in 
Helsinki, Finland.
j) Competent authority
Many European regulatory systems are operated at the 
national (‘Member State’) level by a Competent Authority 
in each Member State. Defra announced on 10 October 
2006 that HSE has been asked to be the UK Competent 
Authority for REACH.
The Competent Authority’s responsibilities under 
REACH will be to:
➤
provide advice to manufacturers, importers, down-
stream users and other interested parties on their 
respective responsibilities and obligations under 
REACH (Competent Authorities’ helpdesks)
➤
conduct substance evaluation of prioritized sub-
stances and prepare draft decisions
➤
propose harmonized Classifi cation and Labelling for 
CMRs and respiratory sensitizers
➤
identify substances of very high concern for 
authorization
➤
propose 
restrictions
➤
nominate candidates to membership of ECA com-
mittees on risk Assessment and Socio-economic 
Analysis
➤
appoint members for the Member State Committee to 
resolve differences of opinion on evaluation decisions
➤
appoint a member to the Forum for Information 
Exchange and meet to discuss enforcement matters

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➤
provide adequate scientifi c and technical resources 
to the members of the Committees that they have 
nominated
➤
work closely with the European Chemical Agency in 
Helsinki.
Although REACH will not come into force until June 2007, 
HSE has already set up an interim helpdesk. It can be 
contacted on 0845 408 9575 or via email at ukreachca@
hse.gsi.gov.uk.