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[wg01_1]
#cg_2
The new European Chemicals regulation, REACH, was adopted in December, 2006. REACH stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of CHemicals. REACH entered into force on June 1, 2007, and will be implemented in phases over an eleven year period.
REACH was designed to systematically identify the hazards and risks of chemicals allowing for appropriate risk management measures by industry and, if necessary, provide for further regulatory action by the public authorities.
EU manufacturers and importers are obligated to register substances they produce or import in quantities over one ton per year. This registration requirement applies to substances on their own, in preparations and in articles if they are intentionally released. Timing and other factors affect the required registration date, which could be as early as 1 June 2008, through as late as 1 June 2018. A Question and Answer document available on the Internet aims to answer many of the common questions posed by industry, both inside and outside the EU.
Downstream users of chemicals must apply risk assessment measures for dangerous substances as identified by the supplier Safet Data Sheet. Downstream users must also have their use identified in a chemical safety assessment, either their own or their suppliers.
Kodak is committed to meeting its legal obligations under REACH, whether as a manufacturer, importer or downstream user, and while we cannot provide any guarantee that all our products will continue to be available, at this time we do not anticipate the need to withdraw any products from the market as a result of REACH.
Kodak will pre-register/register all of the appropriate substances and we will be working with our own suppliers to assure that their REACH obligations are met.
We will also be communicating further with our suppliers and customers to ensure that relevant information necessary for compliance, such as use and exposure categories, are identified in a timely manner.
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