Chemical Industries Association plans to develop a database of chemicals marketed in the UK as part of preparations for the adoption of the proposed Reach regulations
The Chemical Industries Association (CIA) has unveiled plans to develop a database of chemicals marketed in the UK as part of the chemical industry's preparations for the adoption of the proposed Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of CHemicals (Reach) regulations that are about to be discussed in committee-stage in the European Parliament.
The planned database may also be seen as part of the chemical industry's response to recommendations made by the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution in 2003 and will form part of the CIA's broader sustainable development strategy, which is currently under development.
The planned database will contain information on all the chemicals marketed in the UK by CIA member companies.
Work has begun to address the scope of the information to be included in the database, such as, for example, the inclusion or otherwise of waste, and how broad the coverage of the data should be, for example, should all trade names for chemicals be included. Announcing the database at the Reach Forum, organised on 19 January by the Society of Chemical Industry (SCI), CIA director, business and environment, Steve Elliott said: "This database is being developed as a direct response to the valid question - how many chemicals are in the marketplace and therefore likely to be affected by Reach? The CIA has believed for some time that the establishment of such a database is an essential step not just in terms of Reach, but also in terms of the industry's commitment to sustainable development".
Commenting on the plans, CIA director general Judith Hackitt said: "This database is an essential element of our much broader sustainable development strategy - 'Meeting needs and expectations' - and this is an early demonstration of that philosophy in action."
