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Most hazardous and most common chemicals registered

Most hazardous and most common chemicals registered

ECHA/PR/10/23
Press release
Media enquiries: ECHA Press
Helsinki, 1 December 2010

By the REACH deadline of 30 November 2010, 24,675 registration dossiers have been successfully submitted for 4,300 substances including nearly 3,400 phase-in substances. The final number of registrations and substances, including a breakdown of ‘phase-in' and ‘non phase-in' will be available when all submitted dossiers have been processed in the coming weeks. ECHA's website will regularly update the numbers of phase-in registrations and registered phase-in substances.

The aim of REACH is to improve the protection of human health and the environment as well as the competitiveness of industry through the safe use of chemicals. The first registration deadline is a very important step towards this long term goal.

Geert Dancet, Executive Director of ECHA, said "This is a momentous day – something that many people inside and outside Europe have been working towards since the REACH Regulation was published at the end of 2006. I congratulate companies for rising to the challenge to comply with REACH; colleagues in the Member States and the European Commission for their support to companies and to my Agency; and my own staff who have performed magnificently in enabling this to happen."

Thomas Jakl, Chair of the ECHA Management Board, said, "Today's deadline is an important milestone within the reshaping of the EU's chemicals policy. A process launched in 1998 when the first political discussions were held and which culminates today where we see absolute commitment from all stakeholders and ECHA as a strong and competent European Agency".

Approximately 86 percent of registrations were made by large companies and 14 percent by small or medium-sized companies. Only Representatives (companies representing non-EU manufacturers) made 19 percent of registrations, which demonstrates the ability of non-European companies to participate successfully in Substance Identity Exchange Fora (SIEF).

Most of the registrations came from companies based in Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, France and Belgium. More statistics are available in the attached memo and on ECHA's website.

ECHA will in the subsequent months examine any differences between the final number of registered phase-in substances against its earlier forecast, which was based on detailed input received from industry. In any case, the number of registrations is in line with the original Commission estimate, which was the basis of the revenue estimate for the agency, so that financing of the activities of the agency in the coming years is safeguarded.