REACH stands for the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation of Chemicals.The REACH Regulation regulates the manufacturing, placing on the market and handling of industrial chemicals. This new Chemical legislation entered into force on 1 June 2007 and applies throughout Europe; the Regulation concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) repealed the previous notification procedure for new substances under the Chemicals Act and the existing substances procedure under the EU Existing Substances Regulation. The focal points of the Regulation are a general obligation to register for all substances manufactured in the EU or imported into the EU with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), the evaluation of these substances through the EU Member States and the further regulation of certain dangerous substances. These are either restricted to certain applications or subjected to a new European authorisation procedure.

The national helpdesk website went online on 1 January 2008 with the REACH-CLP Helpdesk. The online offer of the REACH-CLP Helpdesk of the Federal Authorities is available at www.reach-clp-helpdesk.de/en/Homepage.html.

As the national helpdesk, the REACH-CLP Helpdesk provides information and guidance on the implementation of REACH, and supports manufacturers, importers and users of chemical substances with the registration, evaluation and authorisation. Topics such as "What has REACH got to do with me?", "Frequently Asked Questions about REACH" or "Topics from A - Z" help with the introduction of the steps that companies must initiate. All the information provided on these Internet pages is continuously expanded and updated (predominantly in German).

Risk Communication

According to Article 123 of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH) the Member States have the duty to inform the general public about the risks arising from substances where this is considered necessary for the protection of human health or the environment. Furthermore, the ECHA must, in consultation with the Competent Authorities, provide guidance for the communication of information on the risks and safe use of chemical substances on their own, in preparations or in articles.

Article 5 of the Chemicals Act (ChemG) provides that in Germany this task is carried out by the Federal Office for Chemicals with support from the competent Risk Assessment Units.