REACH risks becoming too complex for SMEs

The Chemical Business Association (CBA) has expressed concern that the six REACH Implementation Projects (RIPs) risk making REACH too complex for smaller and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

“We have repeatedly pointed out that simplicity is the key to REACH compliance for SMEs with limited technical and financial resources – and SMEs account for more than 95% of the European chemical industry,” said CBA Director, Peter Newport. “It is becoming increasingly clear that this message is being lost within the RIPs which seem intent on overcomplicating the REACH regulations,” he added.

Others agree. Small volume producers and exporters with multiple products are likely to see REACH costs of more the $1 million’ (740,000 euro/£ 504,000) according to contract research firm the RCC.

REACH ‘may turn out to be a nightmare’ for smaller companies; the newly-created European Chemicals Agency ‘may be overwhelmed with (REACH) applications to the point where it can’t do its work properly’; and, ‘smaller companies are worried about many obligations to publish or communicate information and fear a loss of intellectual property’ according to German MEP, Alexander Graf Lambsdorff.