REACH / General

Complying with Reach

Since 2007, chemical substances including solvents have been regulated at the European level under the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals regulation, known as REACH. REACH requires all manufacturers in Europe and importers to register detailed technical dossiers addressing the health, safety and environmental risks on each chemical substance. To comply with the regulation, companies must identify and manage the risks linked to the substances they manufacture and market in the EU. They have to demonstrate to ECHA how the substance can be safely used and must communicate the risk management measures to the users.

ESIG provides guidance to solvent manufacturers and importers in Europe on ways to comply with those requirements. Our Generic Exposure Scenarios (GES) are the solvents industry standard in Europe today to ensure REACH compliance through the supply chain and form the basis for the supporting DU sectors activities on Use Mapping that is recommended by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) – ENES website and Use Map Library.

Reach Registration

The registration of ESIG substances is done in consortia. The respective trade associations, HSPA or OSPA, carry out most of the preparatory work (substance identity and naming convention) or provide regulatory support.

Hydrocarbon Solvents

The Hydrocarbon Solvents Consortium (HCSC) prepares registration dossiers for hydrocarbon solvents.

To facilitate the registration of numerous solvents, nine categories have been set up and new EC and substance names are used to better describe the substances. The reference between the HSPA substances and the Chemical Abstracts Service number (CAS no.) can be found in the HSPA substance CAS no. relationship compilation.

You can learn more about consortium activities, including membership details, on the consortium’s official website.

Oxygenated Solvents

Various REACH consortia were created for the following oxygenated solvents, which are mostly managed by the ReachCentrum:

  • Glycol Ethers
  • Ethyl Acetate
  • Methylethylketone (MEK)/ Secondary Butylalcohol
  • Methylisobutylketone (MIBK)
  • Isopropanol (IPA)
REACH aims to improve protection of human health and the environment while enhancing the competitiveness of the EU chemical industry and avoiding the fragmentation of the internal market.
REACH applies to all chemicals, not just those used in industrial processes but also those used in daily life.
The EU body in charge of the implementation of REACH is the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).

OSPA Related Resources

HSPA Related Resources

Related Resources

ESIG regularly commissions research to improve the basis for REACH Chemical Safety Assessments. This research gives solvent users more confidence in exposure assessments carried out by suppliers and in the associated Risk Management Measures (RMMs) in Safety Data Sheets.