ISO 9001:2015 CERTIFIED
REACH Regulation for Finishers
In December 2006, the European Union passed a regulation governing chemical substances and their effects on the environment and human health.
This regulation is known as REACH, or the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals. It requires companies manufacturing or importing chemicals or chemical substances into EU member nations to register the chemical substances with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). The ECHA must also be notified if substances of very high concern (SVHC) are present in manufactured or imported products, or if the SVHC makes up a certain proportion of the finished product.
In simple terms, REACH ensures that
- The chemicals specified are used in a way that minimizes risks for people and the environment
- There is transparency with regard to the risks involved in using these substances
- They are used under the best possible safety conditions, and
- They improve the competitiveness of the EU chemical industry
REACH is the strictest legislation in place, and this has direct impact on the surface finishing industry. REACH has led to tremendous progress in the surface treatment industry where metals, products and other components used in surface coatings are regulated chemical substances.
The REACH directive has since been updated as of July, 2021 with new rules for studies and new requirements for health/environmental testing. This update came into effect in January of 2022 and Microfinish adopted these changes to continue a history of compliance with all updates over the past 16 years.
For example, Chromium trioxide, also known as hexavalent chromium, is listed as an SVAC requiring authorization because it is a known carcinogen and mutagen. Trivalent chrome is now being substituted for hexavalent, as trivalent chrome is not considered a carcinogen. With the enforcement of REACH regulations, there is increased demand for products that are created with environmentally neutral technology. Finishing organizations outside of the EU have implemented rules to be compliant with REACH, and Microfinish is proud to be a surface finishing provider that uses environmentally friendly finishing processes, having been awarded for our commitment.
Microfinish is committed to investigating and adopting new technologies that further our commitment to the planet. Since 1959, our company has served the St. Louis community and the entire county in many types of finishing processes. We genuinely care about the health and wellbeing of our employees, customers and planet. It is just one more reason to feel good about your decision to utilize Microfinish for all your finishing and plating needs. Learn more by calling us at (314) 849-8181.
