REACH, GHS and the EU BPR

Reach is the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemical Substances.

Texchem is primarily a downstream user of raw materials (substances) and we manufacture goods from these raw materials.

Because of this, Texchem's established products do not require registration but we do have to ensure we comply as a downstream user by ensuring our suppliers have substance registration. This ensures that our customers also benefit from the knowledge that the goods they receive from us conform to the conditions laid out under the regulations.

Texchem also imports substances from outside of the E.U., in each case the manufacturer has achieved REACH compliance by using ‘only representatives’, furthermore we have European alternatives for each imported substance, so we can say with confidence that none of our product range will disappear because of REACH.

We are committed to reducing the use of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) in Texchem preparations but if there are products that include any SVHC's then they are indicated in the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for that preparation and we strive to do our best to make our customers aware of this and offer alternatives where possible. The current list of SVHC (published in accordance with article 59(10) of the REACH regulation) can be seen on the ECHA website.

GHS is an internationally agreed system (Globally Harmonised System) for a the classification and labelling of chemcial substances and materials.

CLP  (European Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 on classification, labelling and packaging) for substances and mixtures came into force on 20 January 2009 in all EU Member States, including the UK. 

The CLP Regulation adopts the United Nations’ Globally Harmonised System on the classification and labelling of chemicals (GHS) across all European Union countries, including the UK.

As GHS is a voluntary agreement rather than a law, it has to be adopted through a suitable national or regional legal mechanism to ensure it becomes legally binding. That’s what the CLP Regulation does.

Texchem utilse the CLP system for producing Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) which in turn provides the associated labelling criteria. 

The Biocidal Product Regulation (BPR, Regulation (EU) 528/2012) concerns the placing on the market and use of biocidal products, which are used to protect humans, animals, materials or articles against harmful organisms, like pests or bacteria, by the action of the active substances contained in the biocidal product

This affects Texchem's activities in two ways:

• Some of Texchems Finished goods require preservation and therefore require the incorporation of Biocidal products in these formulations.  All of these products adhere to the requirements of the BPR and are acknowledged accordingly.
• A variety of Texchems unique finishes fall under the remit of the EU BPR and therefore must adhere to the regulation. These products are clearly defined and any requirements relating to the specific product will be communicated accordingly. 

Detailed information can be found on the ECHA website: https://echa.europa.eu/regulations/biocidal-products-regulation