‘Licence to trade’ legislation in force from June

One of the most important and wide-ranging pieces of European environmental legislation comes into force this year. But the REACH regulations will have a far wider impact affecting many companies outside the EU bloc who trade internationally in PM materials...

With the final differences between the European Parliament and the Council representing member states resolved, the most important piece of Europe-wide chemicals legislation to affect the powder metallurgy industry passed into law just before Christmas after a six-year journey from White Paper to fully fledged law.
The REACH (Registration, Evaluation, and Authorisation of Chemicals) legislation will require chemicals, including metals and alloys, to go through a complex registration and licensing procedure. And without valid registration, it will be illegal to trade.
The new law will come into force on June 10, with pre-registration due to be completed in the 18 months leading up to December 2008. Registration for the highest tonnages will have to be completed by December 2010. The legislation says that those substances that have been identified as being “highly hazardous” under REACH but which have substitutes must be replaced. Those highly hazardous substances that have no economically feasible substitute may continue production and importation, but must include proposals for research into acceptable substitutes.
Peter Brewin, outgoing technical director of the European Powder metallurgy Association (EPMA) said: “Let’s be quite clear about this. The legislation more or less imposes the need to obtain a licence to trade. It is unfortunate that many of the amendments requested by industry were ignored, including exemptions for secondary raw materials and for iron because of the political time pressure. “However, the EPMA and the trade associations representing the metals and other industries will continue to work co-operatively to give the best service to our members.”
The EPMA held a workshop in Brussels in early December for members engaged in manufacturing or importing powder metals and aims to stage a second workshop for parts producers in the next few weeks. Among the most common requests are for advice on the most appropriate syndicates to contact and advice for REACH implementation for powder manufacturers and importers.
But it’s not just Europeans that are working hard to see how they will be placed after June 10. North America, too, has come alive to the possibilities contained by the legislation and how it may have a major effect on their businesses.
At the end of January the American Chemistry Council and the Canadian Chemical Producers’ Association will be staging a two-day REACH implementation workshop. It will be held at the Hyatt Pier 66 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on January 30/31, and, says the ACC/CCPA, will be open to all, whether companies, consultants or customers. A spokesman said : “This legislation is important to North American as well as European companies. REACH implementation is now a top priority for the entire chemical value chain.”