Colipa's role and activity in the development of REACH
Colipa participated actively in the development of the REACH system and in the Regulation’s legal adoption process.In 2001 the European Commission published its White Paper: “Strategy for a future chemicals policy”. Colipa together with AISE (the International Soaps, Detergents and Maintenance Products Association) set up an informal platform for industries using chemicals. Soon, other industry associations joined. These represent a wide range of industries, from aerosols, paints and adhesives to photographic materials and construction chemicals, as well as chemicals distributors. The group, known as DUCC (Downstream Users of Chemicals Coordination group) became a recognised and respected representative voice for downstream users during the process leading to the adoption of REACH.
Colipa had a set of key objectives for the Regulation. It wanted to ensure that REACH would:
- Cover cosmetic ingredients from the environmental and worker safety point of view, while the Cosmetics Directive would continue to regulate consumer safety
- Give cosmetics manufacturers access to Substance Information Exchange Fora (SIEF) for pre-registered substances
- Ensure the inclusion of wording requiring substances to be manufactured, imported or used to prevent adverse effects on human health and the environment under reasonably foreseeable conditions
- Require ECHA to develop guidance on communicating and informing on the risk and safe use of substances
- Address natural and complex substances (NCS) in an appropriate manner to their nature and complexity