European REACH regulation

REACH requires producers to provide data to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) on their chemical substances and to demonstrate that they are being safely produced and used.

• REACH = Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation of Chemicals
  The fourth part is ‘restriction’ not included in the acronym.

REACH requires the chemicals used in products to be registered with the ECHA. These chemicals are then investigated to evaluate their intrinsic properties and to determine whether they pose a potential hazard to human health and the environment. If chemicals do pose a hazard they can be authorised for use in specific applications but are in general restricted in their use.

RENOLIT uses a number of different plasticisers in the production of its flexible films. These include DEHP, DINP, DIDP and DINCH. Of these DEHP is classified under REACH reproductive toxicant (category 1b) for both fertility and developmental effects and is now subject to a process of authorisation, while the other plasticisers have been evaluated and pose no hazard to human health.

Although DEHP is classified as a reproductive toxicant, due to generally low exposure to the hazard, its use in everyday products does not pose a health risk.

For fully updated information see RENOLIT PROFESSION's new REACH Times available for download now!