REACH

REACH has a profound affect on what companies manufacture, import, market and use in Europe. Besides the requirements for testing and registration of chemicals, REACH requires exchanging relevant chemical and use information between suppliers, customers, producers, importers and authorities. The regulation places the responsibility for proper risk management of chemical substances on manufacturers/importers.

Yara has worked with REACH for several years, beginning with the EU Commission proposals before the European Parliament’s final approval of the regulation in 2006. A project organisation was formed to support the regulation’s implementation. A major communication program was carried out with suppliers and customers to secure compliance. Yara will continue to supply its full portfolio of REACH-compliant products, meeting current and future customer expectations.

In compliance with the regulation, Yara has registered all its manufactured and important imported substances, along with their relevant uses, with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). This places increased demands on manufacturers and importers related to the testing of substances and the exchange of chemical safety information between suppliers, customers, producers, importers and authorities. Based on a thorough review of products and inventories, all relevant substances were pre-registered by December 2008.

Following this, all substances were registered well ahead of the Dec. 1, 2010, registration deadline. To better manage its future REACH compliance obligations, Yara is implementing new processes and IT tools company-wide.

Yara’s Safety Datasheets “SDS” will include registration numbers as soon as these are available from ECHA. After Yara’s discussions with customers, numerous uses are now covered by our registrations and included on the SDS.

SDS and extended Safety Datasheets, “eSDS,” are being prepared continuously. Priority is given to eSDS for registered substances as well as eSDS for mixtures containing a “classified” substance or having changed classification. Customers must verify that their use is described on the SDS and that the Risk Management Measures (RMMs) can be implemented. Communication between Yara’s sales and marketing organization and customers is vital if customers need clarification!

After receiving an SDS, customers have twelve months to notify Yara if any additional (missing or new) use should be included (or six months if they want to prepare their own SDS). More information can be expected on this page. Please check for updates!

The Yara REACH teams will continue to work hard with colleagues and industry partners to ensure continued compliance. Yara will maintain close cooperation with suppliers, customers and other companies on testing and documentation.

A permanent Central REACH unit has been established to ensure future compliance in Europe and with similar regulations that are being developed and implemented in other parts of the world. A so-called “Only Representative” function has been added to this new unit in our organization. Selected Non-European Yara partners have started to use this “Yara OR,” securing compliance for supplies coming into Europe.

Through this and other programs such as Product Stewardship and HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point), Yara is fully committed to product safety. With REACH compliance, we can affirm that Yara’s industrial and plant nutrient products will support the world’s demands for safe products and production. Thus, we will continue our contribution to improving human health and the environment.