Summary and conclusions

Udvikling af kompetence og værktøjer til implementering af REACH med fokus på virksomheder inden for rengøringsmiddel- og kosmetikbranchen.

In cooperation with DHI, the Association of Danish Cosmetics, Toiletries, Soap and Detergent Industries (SPT) has carried out a project for the Danish Environmental Protection Agency with the aim to prepare the companies within the association for the requirements under REACH. The project ran from March 2006 to March 2008 with participation of 20 primarily small and medium-sized enterprises within this line of business. The participating companies are affected by REACH in a way that is typical for many companies in Denmark.

The project has contributed to the companies’ own preparations for fulfilling their obligations under REACH and the project activities were mainly focussed on concrete dialogue and dissemination through meetings at the companies. In general, the project comprised the following activities:

1. Introduction to REACH

2. Targeted consultancy

3. Development of tools

4. External dissemination in the form of REACH guidance and workshop

The companies could choose to participate in the project at various levels dependant on their interests and resources. Fourteen companies participated in all of the project activities while six companies participated to a smaller extent.

At project start, more participants expressed their anxiety and confusion about the new regulation, which confirmed the relevance of the project. For the participants, the introductory seminar provided a starting point for the subsequent targeted dialogue about the consequences of REACH. Through opening dialogue meetings, importance was attached to the companies’ understanding of the relevant aspects of REACH and to an identification of their roles and obligations. Then the companies participating in all the project activities got an opportunity to work on their own with specific REACH preparations, which in most cases, included mapping of (part of) their chemicals. Furthermore, these companies participated in a follow-up dialogue meeting, at which the results of their independent work were examined, and the companies were prepared to continue their preparations and meet future requirements.

Concurrently with the targeted consultancy services for the companies, two tools were developed. One of the tools, the REACH Screening Program, is a support tool for mapping of chemicals, and for assessment of which of the company’s chemicals are comprised by REACH and how. The other tool is an updating of the existing ‘SPT chemicals database’, which, as part of the project, had been updated with 20 cosmetic ingredients in support of the preparation of documentation for cosmetics companies. Finally, within the framework of this project, a REACH guidance was prepared with the aim to support the companies in their further preparations for REACH.

The project finished with a two-day workshop in cooperation with the chemical industry, which, during the same period, had carried out a similar project. The purpose of the workshop was to disseminate the results from the two projects and to pass on new information on specific REACH aspects.

In general, the benefits to the companies of the project are considered to be:

Knowledge of the most important aspects of the REACH regulation
Identification of the roles and obligations of the companies
Elucidation of specific problems regarding REACH in the companies
Concrete methods for the REACH preparations regarding mapping, communication and knowledge sharing in the companies
A step-by-step manual in support of the fulfilment of future obligations
Two relevant tools for use in the future REACH preparations

Furthermore, the companies participating in all the project activities benefited from:

Mapping of (part of) their chemicals, which will be of use in the prioritization of their future REACH preparations or
Concrete experience in preparing exposure scenarios

For the majority of the companies, the project has provided a substantial knowledge of the influence of REACH on their companies, and they have started their preparations - e.g. got a good grasp of how the different chemicals are affected by REACH, how future deliveries are secured and the most flexibly way of meeting the new requirements. The final preparations lay ahead and, afterwards, the fulfilment of the obligations under REACH where the participants can really draw on the knowledge and tools that they have acquire during the project.