At 14:41 29/03/2004, Ugis B. wrote:

Subject: Re: [globalocchyg-list] REACH from Europe
From: lawrence_segal@...
Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2004 08:55:32 +0200....

You can find the entire draft REACH regulation at the following website: http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/com/pdf/2003/com2003_0644en.html
Section 1 provides a detailed overview of the purpose and background of REACH. 

An important distinction from earlier EU legislation on this subject is that it is a regulation rather than a directive.  This means that it is directly bearing on industry, which then has to get on with it before they can supply chemicals.  A directive is addressed to member states, who have to introduce national legislation to implement it, which usually involve a certain flexibility.

Someone else pointed out to me that the text is also available at http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/chemicals/chempol/whitepaper/reach.htm

Trevor Ogden