Update On Reach And Ghs - The Asian Outlook

Asia - and indeed every country across the world - is now facing one of the greatest potential challenges to trade in recent times: REACH. The Registration Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals (REACH), the controversial chemical regulation from the European Union affects every company that manufactures and exports products containing chemicals to the European Union.

And now REACH is affecting more markets by influencing legislation in other Western countries, such as the USA. Asian countries are also adopting similar legislation, including Korea.

The requirements of REACH are such that companies wanting to preserve their business in the global economy must work with their customers and suppliers to ensure that chemicals in all products, even finished goods such as clothes and televisions, are safe.

The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) provides a classification and hazard communication system for chemical substances and mixtures to ensure their safe use, transport and disposal. Countries must create local or national legislation to implement the GHS. In Europe, this will affect many products even before REACH.

GHS legislation has been in force around the world for some years in countries such as China, Japan, Malaysia, and New Zealand. This book features chapters from experts of these countries on how GHS implementation is progressing. Also covered are legal risk issue and how to work with competitors and there is a chapter on Consortia and the Substance Information Exchange Forums.

This book will be of interest to those involved in Regulatory Affairs, Research & Development, Product Development, Procurement, Environmental Affairs, Product Stewardship, Health & Safety, Marketing, Quality Assurance and Chemists and Toxicologists.