The New EU Chemicals Policy, known as REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals) entered into force on 1st June 2007 (EC1907/2006).
It will impact on every member of the plastic supply chain including additives producers, plastics producers and manufacturers of finished goods, retail businesses and imports to the EU as well.
Generic Exposure Scenarios for plastics
PEST (Plastics Exposure Scenario Team) formed by the most important associations representing the plastics supply chain has produced a list of Generic Exposure Scenarios that cover most of the known plastics uses and has translated them into "REACH use descriptors”.
To access the table, click on the image below
These use descriptors should be used by the plastics producers to communicate with their suppliers to inform them of their uses. This is recommended for classified additives and facultative for the non-classified ones.
Use descriptors can also be used by plastics producers to communicate up-front with their customers (DU in REACH terms) and inform them of the uses of the plastics they have identified. Such top-down communication should stop or dramatically reduce the number of questions from DU to know if their particular uses will be covered. Again, such a communication is highly recommended in case of classified plastics.