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Registration en

This guidance document describes when and how to register a substance under REACH. It consists of two parts: one on registration tasks and obligations and the other on the preparation of the Registration Dossier. It is part of a series of guidance documents that are aimed to help all stakeholders with their preparation for fulfilling their obligations under the REACH regulation.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
179 views126 pages

Registration en

This guidance document describes when and how to register a substance under REACH. It consists of two parts: one on registration tasks and obligations and the other on the preparation of the Registration Dossier. It is part of a series of guidance documents that are aimed to help all stakeholders with their preparation for fulfilling their obligations under the REACH regulation.
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Guidance on registration

May 2008
(version 1.3)

Guidance for the implementation of REACH


LEGAL NOTICE

This document contains guidance on REACH explaining the REACH obligations and how
to fulfil them. However, users are reminded that the text of the REACH regulation is the
only authentic legal reference and that the information in this document does not
constitute legal advice. The European Chemicals Agency does not accept any liability with
regard to the contents of this document.

© European Chemicals Agency, 2007


Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged.

2
PREFACE
This Guidance Document describes when and how to register a substance under REACH. It consists
of two parts: one on Registration tasks and obligations and the other on the preparation of the
Registration Dossier. It is part of a series of guidance documents that are aimed to help all
stakeholders with their preparation for fulfilling their obligations under the REACH regulation.
These documents cover detailed guidance for a range of essential REACH processes as well as for
some specific scientific and/or technical methods that industry or authorities need to make use of
under REACH.

The guidance documents were drafted and discussed within the REACH Implementation Projects
(RIPs) led by the European Commission services, involving all stakeholders: Member States,
industry and non-governmental organisations. These guidance documents can be obtained via the
website of the European Chemicals Agency (http://echa.europa.eu/reach_en.asp). Further guidance
documents will be published on this website when they are finalised or updated

This document relates to the REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament
and of the Council of 18 December 2006 1

This is the first update of this guidance. The changes are tracked in Appendix 3.

1 Corrigendum to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006
concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), establishing a European
Chemicals Agency, amending Directive 1999/45/EC and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93 and
Commission Regulation (EC) No 1488/94 as well as Council Directive 76/769/EEC and Commission Directives
91/155/EEC, 93/67/EEC, 93/105/EC and 2000/21/EC (OJ L 396, 30.12.2006); amended by Council Regulation (EC)
No 1354/2007 of 15 November 2007 adapting Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the
Council on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), by reason of the
accession of Bulgaria and Romania (OJ L 304, 22.11.2007, p. 1).

3
GUIDANCE ON REGISTRATION

DOCUMENT HISTORY

Version Comment Date

Version 0 First edition June 2007

Version 1 First revision 18/02/2008

Version 1.1 Warning added on Only Representative issue 28/04/2008

“Only Representative” and the “Assigning a


Version 1.2 22/05/2008
registration number” chapters amended

Version 1.3 Clarification on “Only Representative” added September 2008

4
GUIDANCE ON REGISTRATION

CONTENTS

PREFACE........................................................................................................................................................................ 3

CONTENTS .................................................................................................................................................................... 5

PART I: “REGISTRATION” UNDER REACH ............................................................................................................. 9

1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................ 11

1.1 AIM OF THIS GUIDANCE............................................................................................................................ 11

1.2 AIM OF REGISTRATION ............................................................................................................................. 12

1.3 APPROACH IN CHEMICALS ASSESSMENT ............................................................................................ 13

1.4 SUBSTANCES, PREPARATIONS AND ARTICLES................................................................................... 14

1.5 WHO HAS TO REGISTER?........................................................................................................................... 16


1.5.1 Actors in the supply chain .................................................................................................................... 17
1.5.2 Actors in the supply chain with registration obligations ...................................................................... 18
1.5.3 Who is responsible for registration....................................................................................................... 19
1.5.3.1 Legal entity............................................................................................................................. 19
1.5.3.2 Consequences of changes in legal entities.............................................................................. 20
1.5.3.3 Who is responsible of the registration in case of import? ...................................................... 21
1.5.3.4 Only representatives of “non-Community manufacturer” ...................................................... 21
1.5.3.5 Role of Industry associations and other types of service providers ........................................ 25

1.6 WHAT TO REGISTER? ................................................................................................................................. 25


1.6.1 Overview of registration scope ............................................................................................................. 26
1.6.2 Calculation of the volume to be registered ........................................................................................... 27
1.6.2.1 Calculation of the tonnage in case of exemptions .................................................................. 27
1.6.2.2 Calculation of the total tonnage.............................................................................................. 28
1.6.2.3 Calculations of yearly tonnage for phase-in and non phase-in substances ............................. 29
1.6.2.4 Calculation of the amount of substance in a preparation or in articles ................................... 30
1.6.3 Substances exempted from the REACH Regulation ............................................................................ 31
1.6.3.1 Radio-active substances ......................................................................................................... 31
1.6.3.2 Substances under customs supervision ................................................................................... 31
1.6.3.3 Substances used in the interest of defence and covered by National exemptions .................. 32
1.6.3.4 Waste ...................................................................................................................................... 32
1.6.3.5 Non isolated intermediates ..................................................................................................... 33
1.6.3.6 Transported substances .......................................................................................................... 33
1.6.4 Substances exempted from registration ................................................................................................ 33
1.6.4.1 Food or feedingstuffs ............................................................................................................. 34
1.6.4.2 Medicinal products ................................................................................................................. 34
1.6.4.3 Substances included in Annex IV of the REACH Regulation................................................ 35
1.6.4.4 Substances covered by Annex V of the REACH Regulation ................................................. 35
1.6.4.5 Recycled or recovered substance already registered .............................................................. 37
1.6.4.6 Re-imported substance ........................................................................................................... 38
1.6.4.7 Polymer .................................................................................................................................. 40
1.6.4.8 Substances use for purpose of product and process oriented research and development
(PPORD) ................................................................................................................................ 41
1.6.5 Substances regarded as registered ........................................................................................................ 41
1.6.5.1 Active substance for use in biocides ...................................................................................... 42
1.6.5.2 Active substance for use in plant protection products ............................................................ 43
1.6.5.3 Notified substances according to Directive 67/548/EEC ....................................................... 44

1.7 WHEN TO REGISTER? ................................................................................................................................. 45


1.7.1 Phase-in substances vs. non phase-in substances ................................................................................. 45

5
GUIDANCE ON REGISTRATION

1.7.1.1 Phase-in substances ................................................................................................................ 45


1.7.1.2 Non phase-in substance .......................................................................................................... 46
1.7.2 Deadlines for Registration .................................................................................................................... 47

1.8 THE REGISTRATION DOSSIER .................................................................................................................. 48


1.8.1 Structure of Registration dossier .......................................................................................................... 49
1.8.2 Access to information and confidential data ........................................................................................ 52
1.8.3 How to submit a registration dossier .................................................................................................... 54
1.8.4 Joint submission of data by multiple registrants................................................................................... 54
1.8.4.1 Mechanisms of joint submission ............................................................................................ 54
1.8.4.2 Opt-out possibilities ............................................................................................................... 55

2 DATA SHARING PROCEDURES ......................................................................................................................... 56

2.1 BASIC PRINCIPLES OF DATA SHARING PROCEDURES ...................................................................... 56

2.2 MAIN PRINCIPLES OF PRE-REGISTRATION OF PHASE-IN SUBSTANCES ....................................... 57

2.3 INQUIRY FOR NON PHASE-IN AND NON-PRE-REGISTERED PHASE IN SUBSTANCES ................ 58
2.3.1 For which substances an inquiry has to be submitted........................................................................... 58
2.3.2 When to inquire .................................................................................................................................... 58
2.3.3 Content of the inquiry dossier .............................................................................................................. 58
2.3.3.1 Identity of the inquirer............................................................................................................ 58
2.3.3.2 Substance identity .................................................................................................................. 59
2.3.3.3 List of information requirements and of new studies which may be required........................ 59
2.3.4 Preparation and submission of the inquiry dossier ............................................................................... 59
2.3.5 Summary of the inquiry process ........................................................................................................... 59

3 OTHER DUTIES OF REGISTRANTS ................................................................................................................... 61

3.1 REGISTRANTS DUTY OF COMMUNICATION ........................................................................................ 61


3.1.1 Provide a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) to customers ................................................................................. 61
3.1.2 Provide other information to customers ............................................................................................... 62

3.2 CLASSIFICATION AND LABELLING NOTIFICATION ........................................................................... 62

4 WHEN AND HOW TO UPDATE A REGISTRATION DOSSIER ....................................................................... 64

5 APPEAL PROCEDURES........................................................................................................................................ 66

6 FEES ........................................................................................................................................................................ 67

6.1 APPLICABLE FEES AND CALCULATION OF FEES................................................................................ 67

6.2 FEE FOR UPDATING OF A REGISTRATION DOSSIER........................................................................... 67

7 DUTIES OF THE AGENCY ................................................................................................................................... 68

7.1 ASSIGNING SUBMISSION NUMBER......................................................................................................... 68

7.2 COMPLETENESS CHECK AND INVOICING PROCEDURES.................................................................. 68


7.2.1 Technical completeness check ............................................................................................................. 69
7.2.2 Financial completeness check .............................................................................................................. 69
7.2.3 Completeness check procedures ........................................................................................................... 69

7.3 REJECTION OF THE REGISTRATION DOSSIER...................................................................................... 70

7.4 ASSIGNING A REGISTRATION NUMBER ................................................................................................ 70

7.5 INFORMING THE RELEVANT MEMBER STATE COMPETENT AUTHORITY ................................... 71

6
GUIDANCE ON REGISTRATION

7.6 AGENCY PROCEDURE IN THE CASE OF A REGISTRATION UPDATE .............................................. 71


7.6.1 Completeness check of a registration update........................................................................................ 71
7.6.2 Informing relevant Member State Competent Authority about an update............................................ 71

PART II: DETAILED GUIDANCE ON HOW TO PREPARE A REGISTRATION DOSSIER ................................. 73

8 PREPARATION OF REGISTRATION DOSSIER................................................................................................. 75

8.1 FULFILLING THE INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS ............................................................................. 75


8.1.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 75
8.1.2 Use of information from other assessments ......................................................................................... 76
8.1.3 The process of fulfilling information requirements .............................................................................. 77
8.1.3.1 Step 1: Gather and share existing information ....................................................................... 78
8.1.3.2 Step 2: Consider information needs ....................................................................................... 80
8.1.3.3 Step 3: Identify information gaps ........................................................................................... 81
8.1.3.4 Step 4: Generate new information or propose a testing strategy. ........................................... 82

8.2 GENERATION OF THE REGISTRATION DOSSIER ................................................................................. 83


8.2.1 IUCLID ................................................................................................................................................ 84
8.2.2 Generation of the technical dossier ...................................................................................................... 85
8.2.2.1 Level of detail of information to be reported in the technical dossier .................................... 85
8.2.2.2 IUCLID templates .................................................................................................................. 86
8.2.2.3 General information on the registrant and on the registered substance .................................. 87
8.2.2.4 Classification and labelling .................................................................................................... 88
8.2.2.5 Manufacture, use and exposure .............................................................................................. 89
8.2.2.6 Information requirements on inherent properties (Annexes VII to X) ..................................... 91
8.2.2.6.1 Guidance on when to provide a robust study summary or a study summary when
filling the technical dossier with information on each specific endpoint .............. 92
8.2.2.6.2 Further recommendation on when to provide robust study summaries for non key
studies .................................................................................................................... 94
8.2.2.6.3 How to document the endpoint study record ......................................................... 95
8.2.2.6.4 How to document the endpoint summary .............................................................. 96
8.2.2.7 Guidance on safe use .............................................................................................................. 97
8.2.2.8 Others ..................................................................................................................................... 97
8.2.3 Chemical safety report.......................................................................................................................... 98
8.2.3.1 Hazard assessments ................................................................................................................ 98
8.2.3.1.1 Human health hazard assessment .......................................................................... 99
8.2.3.1.2 Physicochemical hazard assessment ...................................................................... 99
8.2.3.1.3 Environmental hazard assessment ......................................................................... 99
8.2.3.1.4 Persistent bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT)/ very persistent and very
bioaccumulative (vPvB) assessment ................................................................... 100
8.2.3.2 Exposure assessment ............................................................................................................ 100
8.2.3.3 Risk characterisation ............................................................................................................ 101
8.2.4 Preparation of a registration dossier in case of joint registration........................................................ 101
8.2.4.1 Preparation of the dossier of the lead registrant ................................................................... 101
8.2.4.2 Preparation of the dossier of other registrants ...................................................................... 102

9 WHEN AND HOW TO UPDATE A REGISTRATION DOSSIER ..................................................................... 103


9.1.1 Duty to keep information up-to-date .................................................................................................. 103
9.1.2 Brief overview of the updating process .............................................................................................. 103
9.1.3 Required update on the registrant's own initiative.............................................................................. 104
9.1.4 Update as a consequence of Agency or Commission decisions ......................................................... 107
9.1.5 Update of registration dossier for substances regarded as being registered under REACH ............... 108

APPENDIX 1 : ACRONYMS ..................................................................................................................................... 117

APPENDIX 2 : ROLES AND DUTIES OF THE MAIN STAKEHOLDERS OF REACH. ...................................... 118

APPENDIX 3 : UPDATE OF THE DOCUMENT. .................................................................................................... 124

7
GUIDANCE ON REGISTRATION

TABLES

Table 1 Annexes requirements depending on tonnage bands ..................................................................................... 76


Table 2 IUCLID 5 templates for the registration dossier............................................................................................ 86
Table 3 Relation between information required under Article 10 and the corresponding sections in Annex VI and
IUCLID 5 file ................................................................................................................................................................ 87

FIGURES

Figure 1 Steps within the registration process and link to the structure of this document .......................................... 12
Figure 2 Principles of the Chemical safety Assessment (CSA) .................................................................................. 14
Figure 3 Registration deadlines .................................................................................................................................. 48
Figure 4 Structure and format of the registration dossier prepared using IUCLID..................................................... 84
Figure 5 Documentation of endpoint study records and the endpoint summaries ...................................................... 91
Figure 6 Decision tree on when to document a study with a robust study summary or a study summary.................. 93

8
GUIDANCE ON REGISTRATION

PART I: “REGISTRATION” UNDER REACH

9
GUIDANCE ON REGISTRATION

1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.1 AIM OF THIS GUIDANCE

The aim of this guidance is to assist industry in determining which tasks and obligations have to be
complied with to fulfil their registration requirements under REACH.
This document guides potential registrants to answer the following questions:
• Who has registration obligations?
• Which substances are within the scope of REACH in general and registration in particular?
• When to pre-register and when to submit an inquiry?
• What is the registration dossier?
• How to prepare the registration dossier and submit it to the Agency?
• When does a registration dossier have to be submitted to the Agency?
• What does it mean to submit jointly with other registrants of the same substance?
• What are registrants' obligations regarding data sharing?
• When and how to update the registration dossier?
• What is the registration fee?
• What are the duties of the Agency once the registration dossier is submitted?
The guidance is based on descriptions of obligations supplemented by explanations and practical
advice, which whenever possible are illustrated by examples. Throughout the text explanations of
the REACH process are offered, providing references to relevant guidance documents and other
useful tools.
All of the references to the relevant Articles, Annexes or legal text quotation from the REACH
Regulation are always indicated in italics (i.e. Article 23).
Whenever in the text of this document "the Agency" is mentioned it is meant The European
Chemicals Agency in Helsinki (ECHA).
Whenever in the text of this guidance "legal entity" is mentioned it is meant a natural or legal
person established in the EU and after ratification of REACH under the EEA Agreement, in the
European Economic Area (EEA).
Whenever in the text of this guidance an "Annex" is mentioned it is meant an Annex of the REACH
Regulation.
The first part of the document is addressed to all potential registrants with and without an expert
knowledge in the fields of chemicals and chemicals assessment. It explains what the registration
requirements are, who is responsible for them and how and when they must be fulfilled.
The second part of the document provides detailed guidance on how to prepare and update a
registration dossier.
Figure 1 guides the reader within this document, through different steps helping him identifying his
registration obligations.

11
GUIDANCE ON REGISTRATION

A tool, called the Navigator, has been developed by the Commission services to help the users
identifying their obligations under REACH. It can be found on http://echa.europa.eu/reach_en.asp .

IDENTIFY IF YOU HAVE ANY ROLE


WITHIN REACH: GUIDANCE ON
section 1.5 See also
Are you manufacturer, importer, only NAVIGATOR
representative, downstream user?

MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW WHAT GUIDANCE ON


YOU MANUFACTURE/IMPORT section 1.4 See also SUBSTANCE
(substance/preparation/article) IDENTIFICATION

IDENTIFY IF YOU ARE WITHIN THE


section 1.6.3
SCOPE OF REACH

IDENTIFY IF YOUR SUBSTANCE IS


WITHIN THE SCOPE OF section 1.6.4
REGISTRATION

CHECK WHETHER YOUR SUBSTANCE CAN BE CONSIDERED


REGISTERED
section 1.6.5
- have you notified it according to Directive 67/548/EEC
- is it included in one of the acts mentioned in Article 15

DETERMINE IF YOU MANUFACTURE


OR IMPORT THE SUBSTANCE IN
QUANTITIES OF 1 TONNE OR MORE

GUIDANCE ON
DETERMINE IF YOUR SUBSTANCE IS ISOLATED
See also
AN ISOLATED INTERMEDIATE INTERMEDIATES

CALCULATE THE VOLUME OF YOUR


section 1.6.2
SUBSTANCE

DETERMINE IF YOUR SUBSTANCE IS


section 1.7.1
A PHASE-IN SUBSTANCE

NON PHASE-IN PHASE-IN


section 1.7.1.2 section 1.7.1.1
SUBSTANCE SUBSTANCE

PERFORM INQUIRY PRE-REGISTER


AND SHARE DATA BETWEEN 1 JUNE AND 1 section 2.2
section 2.3 no
BEFORE DECEMBER 2008
REGISTRATION

yes

TAKE PART IN SUBSTANCE


INFORMATION EXCHANGE FORUM See also GUIDANCE ON
(SIEF) AND SHARE DATA DATA SHARING

IF YOUR SUBSTANCE IS: If you pre-registered, you will


- M/I ≥1000t or have to register your
- CMR cat 1 or 2 and ≥ 1t or substance before
- R50/53 and ≥100t 1 December 2010

If you pre-registered, you will


IF YOUR SUBSTANCE IS: have to register your
section 1.7.2
- M/I ≥100t substance before
1 June 2013

If you pre-registered, you will


IF YOUR SUBSTANCE IS: have to register your
- M/I ≥1t substance before
1 June 2018

Figure 1 Steps within the registration process and link to the structure of this document

1.2 AIM OF REGISTRATION

In REACH the responsibility for the management of the risks of substances lies with the natural or
legal persons that manufacture, import, place on the market or use these substances in the context of
their professional activities. Therefore, the registration provisions require manufacturers and
importers to generate data on the substances they manufacture or import, to use these data to assess

12
GUIDANCE ON REGISTRATION

the risks related to these substances and to develop and recommend appropriate risk management
measures. To ensure that they actually meet these obligations, as well as for transparency reasons,
the registration provisions require them to submit a Registration Dossier containing information in
accordance with Article 10 to the Agency. Registered substances should be allowed to circulate on
the internal market (see Recitals 18 and 19).”
Unless the regulation indicates otherwise, registration obligations apply to substances manufactured
or imported in quantities of 1 tonne or more per year. Normally, the registration must be done
before a substance can be manufactured, imported or placed on the market. However, for most
substances that are already being manufactured or imported (so called “phase-in substances”, see
section 1.7.1.1 for the definition of phase-in substances) a special transitional regime applies which
allows their manufacture or import to continue (see section 1.7.2 – Deadlines for Phase-in
substances.).

1.3 APPROACH IN CHEMICALS ASSESSMENT

REACH is based on the principle that industry should manufacture, import or use substances or
place them on the market in a way that, under reasonably foreseeable conditions, human health and
the environment are not adversely affected.
In order to ensure this, manufacturers and importers need to collect or generate data on the
substances and assess how risks to human health and the environment can be controlled by applying
suitable risk management measures. The responsibility for the management of these risks lies with
the natural or legal persons that manufacture, import, place on the market or use these substances in
the context of their professional activities.
The identification of measures required to manage risks is an integrated part of the safety
assessment concept. In general this is the result of an iterative process where the aim is to
demonstrate how risks identified for the manufacturing or use processes can be adequately
controlled by suitable risk management measures. This process includes an assessment of all
available relevant information on the hazardous properties of a substance and on the conditions
under which it is used. For all substances that are manufactured or imported in volumes greater than
10 tonnes per year, a more formal Chemical Safety Assessment needs to be carried out and
documented in a Chemical Safety Report.
The principles of the safety assessment concept are summarised in Figure 2. More detailed
explanations on the conditions under which the Chemical Safety Assessment needs to be carried out
as well as details on the contents of the individual steps are provided in Section II of this guidance
document.

13
GUIDANCE ON REGISTRATION

Information/data

Tentative Exposure Hazard


Senarios identification

Revise assumed
RMM and/or • Classification
operational • PBT/vPvB assessment

Exposure Hazard
assessment assessment

Risk characterisation

No No
Are risks adequately controlled?

Yes

Final Exposure Scenarios (ESs) describing operational conditions and Risk Management
Measures (RMMs) that adequately control the risks, to be:
• Documented in the Chemical Safety Report (CSR) - as does the hazard assessment
• Communicated to downstream users via an Safety Data Sheet (SDS) annex

PBT – Persistent, Bioaccumulative, Toxic substances; vPvB – very Persistent and very Bioaccumulative substances
Figure 2 Principles of the Chemical safety Assessment (CSA)

1.4 SUBSTANCES, PREPARATIONS AND ARTICLES

REACH lays down obligations which apply to the manufacture, import, placing on the market and
use of substances on their own, in preparations or in articles. Before continuing to explain which
substances require registration it is important to have a clear understanding of these terms and how
preparations and articles are dealt with.
• Substance means a chemical element and its compounds. The term substance includes both
substances obtained by a chemical manufacturing process (for example formaldehyde or
methanol) and substances in their natural state. The term substance also includes its additives
and impurities where these are part of its manufacturing process, but excludes any solvent
which can be separated without affecting the stability of the substance or changing its
composition. Detailed guidance on substances and substance identity can be found in the
Guidance on substance identification where the distinction is made between the three following

14
GUIDANCE ON REGISTRATION

types of substances: mono-constituent substances, multi-constituent substances and UVCB


substances.
• A mono-constituent substance is a substance, defined by its quantitative composition, in
which one main constituent is present to at least 80% (w/w).
For example, o-xylene is considered in both following examples (available in the
Guidance on substance identification) as a mono-constituent substance as its typical
content is more than 80%.

Subst. Main Upper Typical Lower Impurity Upper Typical Lower Substance
constituent content content content content content content identity
(%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
1 o-xylene 90 85 65 m-xylene 35 15 10 o-xylene
2 o-xylene 90 85 65 p-xylene 5 4 1 o-xylene
m-xylene 35 15 10

• A multi-constituent substance is a substance, defined by its quantitative composition, in


which more than one main constituent is present in a concentration ≥ 10% (w/w) and <
80% (w/w). A multi-constituent substance is the result of a chemical reaction in a
manufacturing process. A multi-constituent substance is named as a reaction mass of two
or more main constituents.
In the following example (available in the Guidance on substance identification) the
substance is a multi-constituent substance called the “reaction mass of aniline and
naphthalene”, as both aniline and naphthalene have a typical content between 10 and 80%.

Example
Main constituent Upper Typical Lower Impurity Upper Typical Lower Substance
content content content content content content identity
(%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
aniline 90 75 65 phenanthrene 5 4 1 Reaction
mass of
naphthalene 35 20 10
aniline and
naphthalene

• A UVCB substance (substances of Unknown or Variable composition, Complex reaction


products or Biological materials) cannot be sufficiently identified by its chemical
composition, because: the number of constituents is relatively large and/or the
composition is, to a significant part, unknown and/or the variability of composition is
relatively large or poorly predictable. As a consequence, UVCB substances require other
types of information for their identification, in addition to what is known about their
chemical composition.
The following example is a UVCB as a residue of a specific reaction:

EC number EC Name
293-693-6 Soybean meal, protein extn. Residue
EC description
By-product, containing primarily carbohydrates, produced by an ethanolic extraction of
defatted soybean.

15
GUIDANCE ON REGISTRATION

• Preparation means a mixture or solution composed of two or more substances (Article 3(2)).
Typical examples of preparations include paints, varnishes, inks. Preparations can contain
several substances. Preparations are not the same as multi-constituents substances. The
difference between preparation and multi-constituent substance is that a preparation is gained
by blending of two or more substances without any chemical reaction occurring, whereas a
multi-constituent substance is the result of a chemical reaction. REACH obligations apply
individually to each of those substances depending on whether the individual substances are
within the scope of REACH. Within the Globally Harmonised System for classification and
labelling (GHS), a preparation is named a "mixture" 2 .
• An article is the term for any object that has been given a specific shape, surface or design
which determines its function to a greater degree than does its chemical composition (e.g.
manufactured goods such as textiles, electronic chips, furniture, books, toys, kitchen
equipment). The same requirements apply to new and used imported articles. Detailed guidance
on articles and how they are dealt with under REACH can be found in the Guidance for
articles.
As stated above, only substances have to be registered, preparations or articles do not.
When contained in a preparation, each individual substance needs to be registered, either by the
substance manufacturer or the importer of the substance or preparation when reaching the threshold
of 1 tonne per year. On the other hand, substances that have been registered by the manufacturer or
the importer and that are being mixed into a preparation by a downstream user, do not need to be
registered again by the downstream user.
Individual substances in articles are also potentially subject to registration under certain
circumstances as detailed in the Guidance for articles.
This document therefore focuses on the registration of substances alone or in preparations, and to
substances in articles under certain conditions.

1.5 WHO HAS TO REGISTER?

Aim: The aim of this chapter is to explain which actors in the supply chain have
registration obligations and responsibilities
Structure: The structure of this chapter is as follows:

2 Definition in GHS: “Mixture means a mixture or solution of two or more substances which do not react”

16
GUIDANCE ON REGISTRATION

1.5.1 Actors in the supply chain

The obligation to register a substance applies only to certain actors in the EU. Before explaining the
obligations of registrants under REACH, it is important to have a clear understanding of each of the
'actors in the supply chain' and their various roles and responsibilities.
One legal entity (see section 1.5.3.1) may have various roles depending on its activities, even for the
same substance (e.g manufacturer and importer or manufacturer and downstream user). Therefore,
it is very important that companies correctly identify their role or roles in the supply chain for each
substance they handle, because this will be a decisive factor in determining their registration
obligations.
Therefore, for each substance a company has to define its role or roles under REACH
Manufacturer: means any natural or legal person established within the Community who manufactures a
substance within the Community (Article 3(9)).

Manufacturing: means production or extraction of substances in the natural state (Article 3(8)). It is a case by
case decision to establish which steps of the synthesis of the end product lead to substances which need to
be registered (e.g. different purification or distillation steps).

Importer: means any natural or legal person established within the Community who is responsible for import
(Article 3(11)).
Import: means the physical introduction into the customs territory of the Community (Article 3(10)). According
to the legal definition of “placing on the market” (Article 3(12)), import is considered to be placing on the
market.

Downstream user: means any natural or legal person established within the Community, other than the
manufacturer or the importer, who uses a substance, either on its own or in a preparation, in the course of
his industrial or professional activities (Article 3(13)).

Use means any processing, formulation, consumption, storage, keeping, treatment, filling into containers,
transfer from one container to another, mixing, production of an article or any other utilisation (Article 3(24)).

An important point to bear in mind is that the terms used in REACH to describe the various actors
in the supply chain have very specific definitions and meanings which do not always correspond
with how they might be interpreted in other fora.
Example:
A company purchasing registered substances from within the EU and then formulating these
into preparations (e.g. paints) would be regarded as a downstream user. In layman's terms
this company might be considered to be a manufacturer of paints. However, within the
context of REACH the company would not be a manufacturer of a substance and so would
have no registration obligations for these substances.

Customs boundaries for Manufacture and Import:


Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland are members of the European Free Trade
Agreement (EFTA). The EFTA Convention established a free trade area among its Member States
in 1960. Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway entered into the Agreement with the EU on the
European Economic Area (EEA) in 1992, which entered into force in 1994. Therefore, the EEA is
composed of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and the 27 EU Member States.
REACH applies to EU Member States. Once incorporated into the EEA Agreement and
implemented in the EEA-EFTA states, REACH will also apply to EFTA-EEA States, that is
Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. This, for example, means that imports from Norway, Iceland
and Liechtenstein will be considered as intra-Community trade for the purposes of REACH. After

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GUIDANCE ON REGISTRATION

the incorporation of REACH into the EEA Agreement, the terms ‘EU’ or ‘Community’ used in this
Guidance will also cover the EFTA-EEA States.
To this end, EFTA is preparing a proposal for an EEA Joint Committee Decision, incorporating the
Regulation and establishing the conditions for the EEA EFTA participation in the European
Chemicals Agency. EFTA is targeting to have the Regulation incorporated by 1 June 2008.
Therefore, an importer of a substance from an EEA country will in future not be required to register
the substance under REACH and will simply be regarded as a distributor or downstream user.
However, his supplier established in an EEA EFTA-State will have to register the substance as a
manufacturer under REACH and will be subject to the same obligations as all EU manufacturers.
Importers of a substance from Switzerland (a non-EU country belonging to EFTA but not to EEA)
will have the same obligations under REACH as any other importers.
Examples:
A formulator purchasing his substances in Germany or Iceland will be considered as a
Downstream User.
A formulator purchasing his substances in Switzerland or Japan will be considered as an
Importer.

1.5.2 Actors in the supply chain with registration obligations

1.5.2.1 Who has registration obligations?


The only actors in the supply chain with registration obligations are:
• EU manufacturers and importers of substances on their own or in preparations.
• EU producers and importers of articles meeting the criteria explained in the Guidance for
articles.
• “only representatives” established in the EU and appointed by a manufacturer, formulator or
article producer established outside the EU to fulfil the registration obligations of importers
(see section 1.5.3.4)
Although polymers are exempted from registration, manufacturers or importers of polymers have,
in certain circumstances, registration obligations (see e.g. Guidance for polymers for further
information)
Please note that after implementation of REACH by the EEA EFTA-States, the actors of those
countries will have the same obligations as the EU actors.
Example of when registration is needed:

• A manufacturer of a substance who uses the manufactured substance himself is a


manufacturer and a downstream user. He has a duty to register each substance
manufactured in quantities of 1 tonne or more per year, unless exemptions apply, and will
have to include information on his own use(s) and any identified uses of his customers in
his registration.
• An importer of a preparation has to register those substances which are present in the
imported preparation in quantities of 1 tonne or more per year, unless exemptions apply.
He will have to include information in his registration on the identified use(s) of the
substance(s) in the preparation. There is no obligation for importers of preparations to
register the preparations themselves; indeed preparations cannot be registered.

Example of when registration is NOT needed:

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GUIDANCE ON REGISTRATION

• Any person, who is using substances which he has not manufactured or imported, is a
downstream user and has no obligation to register these substances.
• An importer of a substance, a preparation or an article, who is importing from a non EU
company who has appointed an “only representative” will be considered as a downstream
user and therefore does not need to register.
• A manufacturer or importer of a substance which is exempted from Title II of REACH has
no obligation to register that substance.

1.5.3 Who is responsible for registration

It should be noted that only a natural or legal person established in the European Union can be a
registrant and it is defined by the national laws of each EU Member State:
• A “natural person” is a concept applied in many legal systems to refer to human beings who are
capable and have the right to engage into contracts or commercial transactions. These are
usually people who have reached the age of legal maturity and are in full possession of their
rights (meaning that these rights have not been taken away from them, for example due to a
criminal conviction).
• A “legal person” is a similar concept, applied in many legal systems to refer to companies who
have been endowed with legal personality by the legal system applicable to them (the law of
the Member State where they are established) and therefore are capable of carrying rights and
obligations, independently of the people or other companies behind them (in the case of a
“société anonyme” or “limited company”, their shareholders). In other words, the company
usually has its own existence and its assets do not coincide with those of its owners.
One legal person can work on different sites. It can also open so-called “branch offices” (in
French “succursales”) which do not have separate legal personality from the main or head
office. In such a case, it is the head office that has the legal personality and that has to be
established in the EU to respect the provisions of REACH.
On the other hand, a legal person can also open “daughter companies” or “subsidiaries” in the
EU (in French “filiales”) in which it holds shares or another type of ownership. Such EU
daughters have a different legal personality and therefore qualify as a “legal person established
in the Community” for the purposes of REACH. They are to be considered as different
manufacturers and importers who each may be obliged to register for the respective quantities
they manufacture or import. Often operators do not use the terms “branch” and “office” in this
technical-legal sense and therefore it should be ascertained in detail whether the entity being
referred to has legal personality or not.
In REACH guidance documents as well as in IUCLID, the term ‘legal entity’ refers to such a
natural or legal person having rights and obligations under REACH.

1.5.3.1 Legal entity

Each legal entity established within the Community manufacturing or importing a substance is
required to submit its own registration.
In the case of a company group which is composed of several legal entities (e.g. a parent company
and its subsidiaries), each of those legal entities must submit its own registrations. However, they
need to submit parts of the dossier jointly, as outlined in the section on Joint submission of data by
multiple registrants (see section 1.8.4). On the other hand, if one legal entity has two or more

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GUIDANCE ON REGISTRATION

production plants which are not separate legal entities, then only one registration covering the
different sites needs to be submitted by the legal entity.

Example of situation:

International companies sometimes have several daughters in the EU acting as


importers, often spread over several Member States. Each of those daughters, if it has
legal personality, is a legal person within the meaning of REACH. Depending on the
distribution of work within the group, each of them can be an “importer” responsible
for import. It is for the group or the individual companies to assign the tasks and the
responsibilities to companies in the group.

1.5.3.2 Consequences of changes in legal entities

When there is a change in the details of a legal entity such as a merger, spin-off, bankruptcy,
acquisition, business partially sold, change of address or contact details, then in accordance with the
provisions of Article 22, the registrant, without any undue delay, shall update the registration
dossier or submit a new registration dossier indicating a reference to the initial dossier (see example
below).
Example:

If two companies merge and as a result, there is only one legal entity, then the
company resulting from the merger needs to submit a new registration dossier . This
new registration dossier should make reference to the former registration dossiers of
the initial companies and should cover the information requirements resulting from
the addition of tonnage of the two previous companies. If the link to the initial
company can be made, then the new dossier is considered as an update of legal entity
for the fee calculation, but a new registration number will be issued to the new
company.
If a company splits and as a result there are two or more legal entities different from
the original one, all those new entities will have to submit a new registration dossier
making reference to the dossier of the original company. If the link to the initial
company can be made, then for one of the companies the new dossier is considered as
an update of legal entity for the fee calculation. The companies need to decide
between themselves who keeps the original registration. A new registration number
will be issued for all the new registration dossiers. The new companies will have to
submit their registration jointly and will be able to share all relevant information.

In the case of a merger where the individual legal entities have previously registered the same
substance, attention has to be paid that if the total tonnage of the manufactured/imported substance
after the merger reaches a higher tonnage band, then the registration dossier has to be updated
accordingly.
If a registrant has ceased the manufacture or import of the substance, or the production or import of
an article, he shall inform the Agency of this fact with the consequence that the registered volume in
his registration, if appropriate, shall be put to zero. He should keep the relevant information for 10
years after last manufacture and make it available on request. In the case when he restarts the
manufacture or import of the substance or he restarts the production or import of the article he has
to notify the Agency accordingly.

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GUIDANCE ON REGISTRATION

1.5.3.3 Who is responsible for the registration in case of import?

In case of import (see definition in section 1.5.1), the registration should be made by the legal entity
established in the EU who is responsible for the import. The responsibility for import depends on
many factors such as who orders, who pays, who is dealing with the customs formalities, but this
might not be conclusive on its own.
For example, in the case of a "sales agency" established in the EU but only acting as a kind of
facilitator, a letter-box transmitting an order from a buyer to a non-EU supplier (and being paid for
that service) but taking no responsibility whatsoever on the goods or the payment for the goods and
not having their ownership at any stage, then, the sales agency is not to be considered as the
"importer" for purposes of REACH. The sales agency is not responsible for the physical
introduction of the goods.
The “non-Community manufacturer” or supplier who is exporting a substance or preparation has no
responsibilities under REACH. The shipping company that is transporting the substance or
preparation normally has no obligations under REACH (according to Art. 2(1)(d) see section
1.6.3.6). Exceptions may occur under specific contractual arrangements if the shipping company is
established in the EU and if it is responsible for the introduction of the substance in the EU. As far
as applicable, the current practice for any other product related requirements should be followed to
assess such borderline cases. For more guidance, the National Customs Authorities should be
contacted.
In case an “only representative” has been appointed the only representative is responsible for the
registration (see next section).

1.5.3.4 Only representatives of “non-Community manufacturer”

Registration of substances imported into the EU on their own, in preparations or, in certain cases, in
articles will have to be submitted by the EU importers. This implies that each individual importer
needs to register the substance(s). Natural or legal persons that manufacture substances,
formulate preparations or produce articles outside the EU cannot by themselves register a
substance(s). However, although not responsible for any action under REACH, they can nominate
an only representative established within the EU to carry out the required registration of the
substance that is imported into the EU (Article 8(1)). This will relieve the EU importers within the
same supply chain from their registration obligations, as they will be regarded as downstream users
of the only representative.

Who can appoint an only representative?


According to Article 8(1) a “non-Community manufacturer” being a natural or legal person that is
manufacturing a substance, formulating a preparation or producing an article that is imported into
the Community, can appoint an only representative to fulfil the registration obligations of the
importers. Distributors are not mentioned in Article 8(1) and can therefore not appoint an only
representative. An only representative must be able to document who he is representing and is
advised to attach a document from the “non-Community manufacturer” assigning him as only
representative in IUCLID under section “1.7 Suppliers”.

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GUIDANCE ON REGISTRATION

Who can be an only representative?


An “only representative” is a legal entity established in the EU which has sufficient background in
the practical handling of substances and the information related to them to be able to fulfil the
obligations of importers.
It should be noted that an “only representative” is not the same as a “third party representative”
referred to in Article 4. A third party representative can be appointed by a manufacturer, importer or
where relevant downstream user to allow this potential registrant to remain anonymous vis-à-vis
other stakeholders in the data sharing process. An only representative is not obliged to disclose to
the other participants in the data sharing process the identity of the “non-Community manufacturer”
he is representing (for more guidance see the Guidance on data sharing).

What shall a “non-Community manufacturer” do when appointing an only representative?


When appointing an only representative, it is necessary that the “non-Community manufacturer”
provides his only representative with up-to-date information on the list of EU importers which
should be covered by the registration of the only representative and the quantities imported into the
EU.
The “non-Community manufacturer” has to inform all the EU importers in the same supply chain
that he has appointed an only representative to conduct the registration thus eventually relieving the
importers from their registration obligations. The list of the importers that are covered by the
registration is to be reported in IUCLID in section “1.7 Suppliers”
A “non-Community manufacturer” can only appoint one only representative per substance. Both the
only representative and the importer must be able to clearly document to enforcement authorities
which imports are covered by the registration of the only representative. Otherwise, the importer
remains responsible for all his imports.

What are the consequences for the EU importers ?


When an importer receives information from a ”non-Community manufacturer” in his supply chain
that an only representative has been appointed to cover the registration obligations, this importer
will be regarded as a downstream user of the only representative for the tonnage covered by the
registration of the only representative. This change of status from importer to downstream user only
pertains to the same supply chain, i.e. to the tonnage imported from the “non-Community
manufacturer” having appointed the only representative. If this importer also imports the substance
from other non-EU suppliers, he still has to register the tonnage imported from this or these non-EU
suppliers.
Although the importer will receive confirmation from his “non-Community manufacturer” on the
appointment of the only representative, he should preferably also obtain confirmation in writing
from the only representative that his imported tonnage and use is indeed covered by the registration
submitted by the only representative. This would not only provide the importer with the contact
point to whom he, as acting as a downstream user, can make his use known, but would also give the
importer a clear documentation that the imports are indeed covered by the registration of the only
representative, as otherwise he remains responsible for the imports.
In case the importer does not want to disclose all information on his use to the only representative,
he can, as any downstream user, report to the Agency according to Article 38 and prepare a
Chemical Safety Report in accordance with Annex XII (see the Guidance for Downstream Users).

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GUIDANCE ON REGISTRATION

What are the tasks of the only representative?


An only representative is fully liable for fulfilling all obligations of importers for the substances he
is responsible for as a registrant. These do not only pertain to registration but also all other relevant
obligations such as pre-registration, communication in the supply chain, notification of substances
of very high concern (SVHC), classification and labelling and any obligations resulting from
authorisations or restrictions etc. (see Art. 8(2)).
The only representative registers the imported quantities depending on the contractual arrangements
between the “non-Community manufacturer” and the only representative.

REACH does not distinguish between direct and indirect imports into the EU and therefore such
terms are not used in this guidance. It is essential that there is a clear identification of:
• who in the supply chain of a substance is the manufacturer, formulator or producer of an
article;
• who has appointed the only representative;
• which imports the OR has responsibility for.

As long as the above conditions are met, it does not matter what are the steps or supply chain
outside the EU between the manufacturer, formulator or producer of an article and the importer in
the EU.
It should, however, be pointed out that the use of the only representative facility creates the need for
exact documentation on which imported quantities of the substance are covered by the only
representative registration and which imported quantities are not. The only representative will need
this information to fulfil his obligation under Article 8(2) to keep available and up-to-date
information on quantities imported and customers sold to. Moreover, the importer will also need to
know whether a concrete quantity of the substance in a preparation is covered by the registration of
the only representative of the substance manufacturer, as he would otherwise be subject to a
registration requirement himself. This documentation will need to be presented to the enforcement
authorities upon request.
The registration dossier of the only representative should comprise all uses of the importers (now
downstream users) covered by the registration. The only representative shall keep an up-to-date list
of EU customers (importers) within the same supply chain of the “non-Community manufacturer”
and the tonnage covered for each of these customers, as well as information on the supply of the
latest update of the safety data sheet.
For phase-in substances the only representative will have to pre-register the substance in order to
benefit from the extended registration deadlines and will subsequently become participant of the
Substance Information Exchange Forum (SIEF) (see section 3.4 of the Guidance on data sharing).
Although the only representative is legally responsible for the registration, it can be anticipated that
in many cases, it will be the “non-Community manufacturer” that will provide him with all
necessary data for his registration dossier. If a ”non-Community manufacturer” decides to change
his only representative, the successor can submit an update of the earlier registration dossier
provided that the earlier only representative agrees to this change. This agreement needs to be
documented in the update. In order to prevent disputes, it is recommended to include clauses on the
eventuality of a later change of the only representative in the contracts between the “non-
Community manufacturer” and the only representative.

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GUIDANCE ON REGISTRATION

In the absence of an agreement by the earlier only representative, the successor will have to submit
a new registration dossier. In this latter instance, it is nevertheless possible that the former only
representative agrees to make available the data and dossier for reuse for the new only
representative to prepare his registration dossier.
The only representative can represent one or several “non-Community manufacturers”. If it acts on
behalf of several “non-Community manufacturers” it must submit a separate registration for each of
these substance manufacturers. The tonnage of the substance to be registered in each registration is
the total of the tonnages of the substance covered by the contractual agreements with the only
representative and the specific “non-Community manufacturer” represented by him. The
information requirement for the registration dossier shall be determined according to this tonnage.
By making separate submissions, the confidential business information of the “non-Community
manufacturer” can be preserved and equal treatment with EU manufacturers can be ensured (EU
manufacturers must submit separate registration dossiers for each legal entity) 3 .

Example: Role and registration obligations of different actors when an only representative is appointed

OUTSIDE EU EU

Role and Registration


obligations
Non-EU
3 tonnes
Manufacturer 1

Importer 1
- registers 3 tonnes
Non-EU - is a downstream user of the only
5 tonnes Importer 1
Manufacturer 2 representative for the remaining 5
tonnes
DU of
Appoint as Only Representative
Only representative
- registers the tonnage exported by
Only representative the non-EU manufacturers 2 and 3
Appoint as Only Representative separately, i.e. he registers 8 tonnes
for non-EU manufacturer 2 and 8
tonnes for non-EU manufacturer 3.

DU of

3 tonnes DU of Importer 2
- does not need to register
Importer 2 - is a DU of the only representative
Non-EU
5 tonnes
Manufacturer 3

Importer 3
- does not need to register
3 tonnes
- is a DU of the only representative
Non-EU distributor 3 tonnes Importer 3

Guidance in case of import of a preparation


An importer of preparations is obliged to register the substances in the preparations he imports. For
that he needs to know the identity and the concentration of the ingredients in the imported

3 This section has been amended in May and September 2008. Please refer to page 110 et seq. for further information.

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GUIDANCE ON REGISTRATION

preparations, unless the exporting “non-Community manufacturer” appoints an only representative


who carries out the registration instead of the importers. In that case, the “non-Community
manufacturer” shall inform the importers that an only representative has been appointed. If the
“non-Community manufacturer” appoints separate only representatives for the different substances
in the preparation or only appoints only representatives for some of the substances in the
preparation, this shall be communicated clearly to the importer, so he is aware of which obligations
he is relieved of. In any case, the importer of the preparation and the corresponding only
representative(s) must be able to document that the specific substance volume imported in the
preparation(s) is covered by the registration dossier of the appointed only representative(s) of the
“non-Community manufacturer” and if not, by the registration dossier of the importer himself.

1.5.3.5 Role of Industry associations and other types of service providers

The actual registration can only be done by the manufacturer, importer or producer of an article or
only representative and cannot be done by any third party including Industry associations, unless
they act as the only representative for one or more non-EU companies.
However, Industry associations can provide very valuable assistance to registrants for the
preparation of registration dossiers, and can help co-ordinating the process. In addition they may
have valuable data on the substance that could be submitted to the SIEF (cf. Guidance on data
sharing). They could also be appointed to represent a registrant in discussions with other registrants
regarding preparation of the joint submission of hazard data and act as third party representative.
They can include non-EU enterprises as members, who, even though having no direct registration
obligations, can provide information and assistance through these associations.

1.6 WHAT TO REGISTER?

Aim: This chapter provides an outline of which substances are subject to registration
requirements and a detailed explanation of the circumstances under which the
various exemptions from registration are applicable. Because the tonnage of
manufacture or import of each substance is critical in determining whether and how
to register, this chapter also outlines methods for calculating the volume to be
registered.
Structure: The structure of this chapter is as follows:

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GUIDANCE ON REGISTRATION

What to register?
Substances regarded
as registered
Overview of Section 1.6.5
Substances
registration scope exempted from
Substances
Section 1.6.1 registration
exempted from
REACH Section 1.6.4
Section 1.6.3
Food or Active substance for
Calculation of the volume Radio-active feedingsstuff use in biocides
to be registered substances Section 1.6.4.1 Section 1.6.5.1
Section 1.6.2 Section 1.6.3.1
Medicinal products Active substance for use in
Substances under Section 1.6.4.2 plant protection products
customs supervision Section 1.6.5.2
Calculation of the tonnage Section 1.6.3.2
in case of exemptions Annex IV substances Notified substances
Section 1.6.2.1 Substances used in the Section 1.6.4.3 (Directive 67/548/EEC)
interest of defence and Section 1.6.5.3
covered by National
Addition of the volumes exemptions Annex V substances
Section 1.6.2.2 Section 1.6.3.3 Section 1.6.4.4

Recycled or recovered
Calculations of yearly tonnage Waste substance already registered
for phase-in and non phase-in Section 1.6.3.4 Section 1.6.4.5
substances
Section 1.6.2.3 Re-imported substance
Non isolated intermediates Section 1.6.4.6
Section 1.6.3.5
Calculation of the amount of
substance in a preparation or in Polymer
articles Section 1.6.4.7
Section 1.6.2.4 Transported substances
Section 1.6.3.6 PPORD
Section 1.6.4.8

It should be highlighted that registration applies to substances on their own, substances in


preparations and substances in articles when they are intended to be released under normally or
reasonably foreseeable conditions of use (more guidance on substances in articles can be found in
the Guidance for articles).

1.6.1 Overview of registration scope

The basic definition of a substance is a very broad one which includes not only potentially
hazardous industrial chemicals, but every type of chemical substance manufactured in or imported
into the EU. It therefore includes substances which are already closely regulated by other legislation
such as medicines, biocides, pesticides, cosmetics or radioactive substances. Because of this, there
are some complete or partial exemptions from REACH requirements.
Registration is required for all substances manufactured or imported in quantities of 1 tonne or more
per year unless they are explicitly exempted from the scope of registration. This requirement applies
irrespective of whether the substances are classified as hazardous or not. A technical dossier shall
be prepared for all registrations and a chemical safety report (CSR) is required if the quantity
manufactured or imported reaches or exceeds the 10 tonnes per year threshold. For substances
manufactured or imported in quantities between 1 tonne per year and 10 tonnes per year some
specific exposure information will have to be provided as part of the information in the technical
dossier.
Completely excluded from REACH are radioactive substances; substances under customs
supervision and non-isolated intermediates. Waste is specifically exempted. A number of other

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GUIDANCE ON REGISTRATION

substances are exempted from parts of the REACH provisions, where other equivalent legislation
applies (for example substances used in medicinal products). In addition, polymers are exempted
from registration, substances used for process and product oriented research and development only
require a notification, non-isolated intermediates are excluded from REACH (but a special regime
applies for the registration of isolated intermediates).
In addition, certain identified (categories of) substances and substances from certain identified
processes, which are considered as causing minimum risk to human health and the environment, are
exempt from registration. These substances are typically of natural origin and the list of exempted
substances includes, for example, corn oil and nitrogen. Annex IV and V describe these substances
and more guidance is given in sections 1.6.4.3 and 1.6.4.4. The Commission will carry out a review
of these two annexes by 1 June 2008 with a view to proposing amendments, if appropriate.

1.6.2 Calculation of the volume to be registered

There are different rules to be applied on how to calculate a yearly tonnage for the registration
dossier for phase-in and non phase-in substances (see Article 3(30)). The paragraphs below describe
how to calculate the volume (tonnage value) to be used in order to decide whether a registration
must be submitted for a substance (the threshold being 1 tonne per year), what are the information
requirements that have to be fulfilled (in accordance with the different annexes) as well as, in the
case of phase-in substances, to identify when the registration of the substance is due.

1.6.2.1 Calculation of the tonnage in case of exemptions


In principle a potential registrant needs to calculate the total volume of the substance he
manufactures or imports and based on that decide whether a registration must be submitted and
within which tonnage band. However if certain exemptions to registration apply to the specific
substance, the potential registrant does not need to include those quantities in his calculation to
determine the volume he has to register.
• Some substances or specific uses of some substances are exempted from registration.
These exemptions from registration can be found in section 1.6.4.
Example 1: When a use is exempted from registration
If a company manufactures a substance to be used in a medicinal product, it does not need to
register the substance for that use. However, this company or its customers may at the same
time make other uses of the same substance. To determine its registration obligation under
REACH, it must count the quantities for the other uses. E.g., company A is a manufacturer
manufacturing 120 tonnes of magnesium hydroxide in year X. 70 tonnes are used in
medicinal products and 50 tonnes are used for the formulation of a preparation. The 50
tonnes used for the formulation of the preparation will be subject to the provisions of the
REACH Regulation, while the 70 tonnes used in medicinal products are exempted from
registration under REACH Regulation. As the total tonnage to be counted for registration
purposes is 50 tonnes, the company must register in the 10-100 tonnes band.

• Substances manufactured or imported for the purpose of Product and Process


Orientated Research and Development (PPORD) can also be exempted from
registration under certain conditions (see Guidance for PPORD) as long as a PPORD
notification is submitted to the European Chemicals Agency and any conditions set by the
Agency are fulfilled (see Article 9).

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GUIDANCE ON REGISTRATION

Example 2: Tonnage to consider for the registration dossier in case of PPORD use
If a company manufactures 11 t/a of a substance, of which 2.0 t/a are for PPORD, the
registration obligation is defined by the 9.0 t/a, i.e. the information requirements in
Annex VII apply.

• Manufacturers or importers of isolated intermediates can, under certain conditions (see


Guidance for intermediates) submit a registration dossier containing a limited set of
information (see Article 17 and 18).
When a substance is manufactured or imported for several of these uses (for PPORD, as
intermediate and for other uses) the registrant has the possibility to submit:
• one notification dossier for the use under PPORD
• one registration dossier covering both the use as isolated intermediate and the other uses.
If the manufacture or use(s) as intermediate are not under strictly controlled conditions,
then the manufacturer or importer needs to submit a “standard” registration dossier
according to Article 10 . If part of the tonnage manufactured or imported is for uses as
intermediate under strictly controlled conditions, this tonnage will not need to be taken
into account for the information requirement of the registration dossier. Nevertheless the
use as intermediate should be documented in the dossier, including the tonnage
manufactured or imported for this purpose.
Example 3 Tonnage to consider for the registration dossier
A company manufactures 2300 tonnes of substance A, of which 1700 tonnes are used as
intermediate in strictly controlled conditions. This company will submit a registration dossier
for substance A, where the volume of the remaining 600 tonnes not used as intermediate is
used to determine the information requirements. This means that the information
requirements for 100-1000t substances will be used as a basis for this dossier. The fact that
the substance is also used as an intermediate should be indicated in the dossier and the
volume of 1700 tonnes used as intermediates will also need to be documented in the dossier.

When a manufacturer or importer of a substance on its own or in one or more preparations also
imports a substance in articles and that substance in the article is intended to be released under
normal or reasonably foreseeable conditions of use (see the Guidance for articles), there is no need
to aggregate the tonnages between the tonnage for the substance on its own or in (a) preparation(s)
on the one hand and the tonnage for the substance in articles with an intended release on the other
hand for the purpose of registration. In case the tonnage of the substance in the imported articles is
below one tonne per year, there is no need to make a registration for this tonnage nor to take it into
account in the registration for the substance on its own or in (a) preparation(s). If the tonnage of the
substance in the imported articles is above one tonne per year the registrant is not obliged to submit
another registration dossier for the substance in the article on the condition that the registration of
the substance on its own and in preparations covers the use of that substance in the article.
Additional information is available in the guidance of substances in articles.

1.6.2.2 Calculation of the total tonnage


In any case, it will be necessary to sum up all the tonnage of the substance that are intended to be
manufactured and imported by the given registrant and that are not exempted from registration. This
means, for example, that if a substance is imported in several preparations, the tonnage of the

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substance in each preparation (calculated using the amount of the substance present in these
preparations) will have to be added.
In the case that the same registrant manufactures and/or imports the same substance at different
sites which belong to the same legal entity, then the tonnage of the substance to be registered is the
total tonnage of the substance manufactured and/or imported at the different sites, because the sites
are not separate legal entities.
Moreover, if a substance is imported in several articles from which it is intended to be released, the
potential registrant needs to sum up all tonnages of the substance present in those articles. For this
purpose, he needs to count only those articles from which the substance is intended to be released.
Whenever a substance is intended to be released from an article, the whole amount present in that
article needs to be counted and not only the amount intended to be released.
Example:
If a company X imports three articles A, B, and C with 60 tonnes of the substance present in
each but:
- in article A, the substance is not intended to be released
- in article B, the substance is intended to be released and 40 out of 60 tonnes are released
under normal conditions
- in article C, the substance is intended to be released and 10 out of 60 tonnes are released
under normal conditions
the company X will need to register the total tonnage of the substance in article B and C: 120
tonnes, i.e. in the 100-1000 tonnes band.

1.6.2.3 Calculations of yearly tonnage for phase-in and non phase-in substances

Tonnage for non phase-in substances in the registration dossier


The tonnage of a non-phase-in substance to be reported in a registration dossier is the estimated
quantity that is expected to be manufactured and/or imported in the calendar year (1 January – 31
December) of registration (see Article 3(30)). In case manufacturing starts only later in a particular
calendar year, registration dossiers could cover the expected tonnage for a full calendar year rather
than the remaining months of the first calendar year, in order to avoid the need for a very quick
update of the registration dossier for the second year.
The definition of non phase-in substances can be found in the section 1.7.1.2.

Calculation of the tonnage for the registration of phase in-substances that have been pre-registered
The definition of phase-in substance can be found in section 1.7.1.1.
In the case of a phase-in substance that has been imported or manufactured for at least three
consecutive years, the quantities “per year” shall be calculated on the basis of the average tonnage
manufactured or imported in the three preceding calendar years (see Article 3(30)). If the substance
has not been manufactured or imported for 3 consecutive years then the calendar year tonnage
should be used (see example 4). This provision has been put in place to avoid situations where a
sudden increase in demand would lead to the impossibility to comply with the registration
obligations.
This tonnage manufactured or imported “per year” is to be used for the identification of the
information requirements for registration. The highest tonnage “per year” manufactured or imported
after 1 June 2007 determines the deadline for registration (as stated in Article 23). As a
consequence, the tonnage reported in the registration dossier does not necessarily correspond to the

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tonnage range for which registration is foreseen, for example if there is an important decrease of the
manufactured or imported volume. To know more about registration deadlines for phase in
substance see section 1.7.2.
Example 1:
If a company, based on its manufacture previsions, has determined that it should register a
phase-in substance by the 1st June 2013 (as its manufacture volume is expected to be in the
100-1000 tonnes range).
Each year the company needs to calculate its yearly tonnage as the average over the three
preceding years, e.g. in 2007 it is the average over 2004-2006.
The deadline for registration according to Article 23 is based on the highest tonnage
calculated starting in 2007.
In case this tonnage reaches 1000 tonnes, the registration is then due before the 1st
December 2010. If this happens in 2011 or 2012 the registration is due without delay. As the
yearly tonnage is based on a three year average it should be easier for companies to
anticipate any increase of yearly tonnage.
If the tonnage stays in the 100-1000t tonnage band, then the registration should be submitted
by the first of June 2013 and the tonnage for 2013 (calculated as the average over 2010-
2012) has to be reported in the registration dossier.

Example 2:
If the volume manufactured by Company Z is 120 tonnes (calculated as 3 years average) in
2009 and decreases to less than 100 tonnes after that, Company Z will still have to register
ultimately by 31 May 2013, as the substance has been manufactured at least once at 100
tonnes or more after 1st June 2007. The tonnage to take into account in the registration
dossier will be the 2013 tonnage calculated as the average over 2010-2012.

Example 3:
The volume manufactured by Company V is 600 tonnes in 2007, 900 tonnes in 2008, 1400
tonnes in 2009 and 2000 tonnes in 2010. The "3 year-average" tonnage in 2010 is 966
tonnes/year, but the "3 year-average" tonnage in 2011 is 1433 tonnes/year. In this case
company V will have to register the substance as soon as possible in 2011 as the registration
deadline for the substances on 1000 tonnes or more per year has passed on 30 November
2010.

Example 4:
The volume manufactured by Company V is 900 tonnes in 2007, 0 tonnes in 2008, 1000
tonnes in 2009. As the substance has not been manufactured during three consecutive years
then the calendar year tonnage should be used. In this case the 1000 tonnes threshold has
been reached in 2010, meaning that a registration is due on 30 November 2010 at the latest
and the information requirement should be based on a 1000 tonne manufacture.

1.6.2.4 Calculation of the amount of substance in a preparation or in articles


Specific situations may occur for substances present in preparations or in articles:

Amount of a substance in a preparation


In order to be able to calculate the amount of a substance in a preparation, the total tonnage of the
preparation is multiplied by the fraction of the constituent substance. This value can for example be

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obtained from the safety datasheet of the preparation. When only a range of concentrations of a
substance in a preparation is available, then the maximum tonnage of the substance is calculated
using the highest possible content of that substance in the preparation. Without more precise
information on the composition, this tonnage should be used for the purpose of registration.

Amount of a substance in an article


In the case of articles which contain a substance that is intended to be released under normal or
reasonably foreseeable conditions of use, then:
• If the weight by weight content of that substance is known, then this value is multiplied by the
total mass of the produced and/or imported article; or
• If the weight of substance per unit article is known then this value is multiplied by the total
number of imported articles.
More detailed guidance can be found in the Guidance for articles.

1.6.3 Substances exempted from the REACH Regulation

1.6.3.1 Radio-active substances

Radio-active substances are substances that contain one or more radionuclides of which the activity
or concentration cannot be disregarded as far as radiation protection is concerned. In other words,
they are substances which give off such a degree of radiation that there is a need to protect people
and the environment against that radiation.
Radio-active substances were already exempted from notification under Directive 67/548/EEC on
classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances, and the REACH Regulation
exempts them from its application altogether. The reason for this exemption is that there is specific
legislation applicable to them, so that there is no need to apply the REACH Regulation in addition.

Legal reference: Article 2 (1) (a)

1.6.3.2 Substances under customs supervision

If substances (on their own, in a preparation or in an article) in temporary storage, in transit, in a


free zone or in a free warehouse on the EU territory are only transiting through the EU and remain
under customs supervision while waiting to leave the EU, they are not subject to the provisions of
the REACH Regulation.
Importers of substances meant to leave the EU again, who wish to rely on the exemption from
REACH are therefore advised to ensure that the substances, while on the EU territory, meet all the
following conditions:
• the substances are put in a free zone or free warehouse as defined under customs legislation or
placed under another relevant customs procedure (transit procedure, temporary storage),
• the substances are kept under supervision of the customs authorities, and

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• the substances do not undergo any form of treatment or processing during their stay in the EU.
For that purpose a free zone or a free warehouse on the EU territory is regarded as being part of
the EU. 4
In the case of doubt, it is recommended to contact the customs authorities, who can provide more
detailed clarification on the possible customs regimes established by Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92
on the community customs code which may be applied to substances merely passing through the
EU.

Legal reference: Article 2 (1) (b)

1.6.3.3 Substances used in the interest of defence and covered by National exemptions

The REACH Regulation allows individual Member States to exempt certain substances (on their
own, in a preparation or in an article) from the application of REACH, in the interests of defence.
It should be noted that this exemption will only apply once a Member State has taken a formal
measure, in accordance with its national legal system, to exempt certain specific substances from
REACH. The exemption will, naturally, only apply within the territory of the Member State having
fixed the exemption.
At the time of writing this guidance, no Member States had fixed an exemption in the interests of
defence. It can be expected that Member States who decide on such an exemption will inform their
suppliers concerned; however, if in doubt, manufacturers, importers and producers of preparations
or articles which are used by Member State military forces or authorities in a defence context, are
advised to contact those forces or authorities to check if an exemption was granted which may cover
their substance, preparation or article.

Legal reference: Article 2 (3)

1.6.3.4 Waste

The definition of waste as defined in the Waste Framework Directive 2006/12/EC also applies to
REACH. Waste is any substance or object which the holder discards, or intends or is required to
discard. This may be waste from households (e.g. newspapers or clothes, food, cans or bottles) or
from professionals or industry (e.g. tires, slag, window frames that are discarded).
The REACH Regulation does not exempt waste from its provisions, but clarifies that waste is not a
substance, a preparation or an article within the meaning of REACH. This is because when the
holder discards, intends to or is required to discard something, it loses its status as a substance,
preparation or article. Note that when a Chemical Safety Assessment is required for a
(manufactured or imported) substance, this must include the whole lifecycle of the substance
including the waste stage (cf. Annex I, 0.7 and 5.1.1). If necessary to manage risks from chemical
substances, recommended waste management measures have to be communicated through the
supply chain via SDSs (heading 13). However, waste treatment is not a downstream use under
REACH and waste treatment operators will not receive SDSs on how to handle the substance
during the waste phase. As long as residues from waste treatment operations are waste, i.e. that they

4 This sentence has been amended in April 2008. Please refer to page 110 et seq. for further information.

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are disposed of (e.g., landfilled), they do not fall under REACH. Residues which are recovered as
any other substances or preparations fall under REACH.
It is important to note that once waste is recovered and in this recovery process another substance,
preparation or article is produced, the REACH rules will in principle apply again, as they would to
any other substance, preparation or article manufactured, produced or imported in the EU. In
specific cases, where a recovered substance is the same as a substance which has already been
registered, an exemption from the registration obligation may apply. More guidance on recovery is
available in section 1.6.4.5.

Legal reference: Article 2 (2)

1.6.3.5 Non isolated intermediates

A non-isolated intermediate is an intermediate that during synthesis is not intentionally removed


(except for sampling) from the equipment in which the synthesis takes place. Such equipment
includes the reaction vessel, its ancillary equipment, and any equipment through which the
substance(s) pass(es) during a continuous flow or batch process as well as the pipe work for
transfer from one vessel to another for the purpose of the next reaction step, but it excludes tanks or
other vessels in which the substance(s) are stored after the manufacture.
Non-isolated intermediates falling within the above definition are not covered by REACH.
Note however that quantities of the same substance may be used in other operations or under other
conditions, which implies that those quantities cannot be regarded as “non-isolated intermediate”.
Only the quantities of the substance used under the conditions qualifying it as a “non-isolated
intermediate” are exempted from REACH. For the remaining quantities, the relevant requirements
under REACH must be fulfilled.
Legal references: Article 2 (1) (c), Article 3 (15) (a)

1.6.3.6 Transported substances

The REACH Regulation exempts from its provisions the carriage of dangerous substances and
dangerous substances in dangerous preparations by rail, road, inland waterway, sea or air. Please
note that for all activities (manufacture, import, use) related to the concerned substances other than
the transport, the REACH requirements apply (unless covered by another exemption).
EU transport legislation (for example, Council Directive 94/55/EC of 21 November 1994 on the
approximation of the laws of the Member States with regard to the transport of dangerous goods by
road, and relevant amendments) already regulates the safety conditions of transport of dangerous
substances by various means of transport and thus such transport is exempted from the provisions of
the REACH Regulation.
Legal reference: Article 2 (1) (d)

1.6.4 Substances exempted from registration

The Regulation exempts certain substances that are adequately regulated under other legislation,
like medicinal products, or that generally present such low risks as not to require registration, like
water, oxygen, certain noble gases, and specific types of cellulose pulp. In other cases substances

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occurring in nature such as minerals, ores and ore concentrates, cement clinker etc are not required
to be registered as long as they are not chemically modified. Although polymers are exempted as
well from the requirement to register, since they usually are not very hazardous, it is required to
register monomer substances contained in the final polymer in ≥ 2% as monomer units, which have
not already been registered and provided that those monomers make up ≥ 1 tonne/year.
The substances exempted from registration are described in detail below.

1.6.4.1 Food or feedingstuffs

When a substance is used in food for humans or feedingstuffs for animals in accordance with the
Food Safety Regulation (EC) No 178/2002, the substance does not have to be registered.
The Food Safety Regulation already requires that food for humans cannot be placed on the market
unless it is safe, i.e. not injurious to human health and fit for human consumption. Similarly, feed
for animals is not to be placed on the market or fed to food-producing animals unless it is safe, i.e.
not having an adverse effect on human or animal health and not making the food derived from food-
producing animals unsafe for humans. Moreover, for food additives, food flavourings, feedingstuffs
additives and animal nutrition, specific pieces of Community legislation already create a system for
authorisation of substances for those particular uses. Therefore, registration under REACH would
have little added value.
Accordingly, it is in the interest of manufacturers and importers of substances which may be put to
food or feedingstuffs related uses to be aware if their own legal entity or their clients actually use
the substance in food or feedingstuffs in accordance with the Food Safety Regulation, since in that
case they will not have to register this use or obtain authorisations, at least for the quantities of the
substance which are used in this way. Thus, if a downstream user makes such a use known to his
supplier in accordance with Article 37(2), he should be advised to consult the Food Safety
Regulation.
Note however that quantities of the same substance may be used for other uses than food and
feedingstuffs, so those quantities are not exempted. Only the quantities of the substance used in
food and feedingstuffs are exempted from the registration obligation under REACH.
Example:
A manufacturer manufactures 100 tonnes of sulphuric acid in year X. 50 tonnes are used in
foodstuffs in accordance with the Food Safety Regulation, 50 tonnes are used for the
formulation of a non-food preparation. The 50 tonnes used for the formulation of the non-food
preparation will be subject to the registration provisions of the REACH Regulation and can, if
their properties warrant so, be made subject to authorisation, while the 50 tonnes used in
foodstuffs are exempted from registration, evaluation and authorisation.

Legal references: Article 2 (5) (b), Article 2 (6) (d)

1.6.4.2 Medicinal products

When a substance is used in a medicinal product within the scope of :


• either Regulation (EC) No 726/2004 on Community procedures for the authorisation and
supervision of medicinal products for human and veterinary use and establishing a European
Medicines Agency
• or Directive 2001/82/EC on the Community code relating to veterinary medicinal products

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• or Directive 2001/83/EC on the Community code for medicinal products for human use
the substance does not have to be registered under the REACH Regulation for that use.
Accordingly, it is important for manufacturers and importers of substances which may be put to
pharmaceutical related uses to be aware if their own legal entity or their clients actually use the
substance in medicinal products covered by the pharmaceuticals legislation referred to above since
in that case they will not have to register or obtain authorisations under REACH to the extent the
substance is used for such medicinal products.
The exemption does not distinguish between active or non-active ingredients as it applies to any
substance “used in medicinal products”. Excipients used in medicinal products are therefore also
exempted from registration.
Note, however, that quantities of the same substance may be used for other uses than
pharmaceuticals, so those quantities are not exempted. Only the quantities of the substance used in
medicinal products are exempted from the registration obligation and REACH authorisation.
Example:
A manufacturer manufactures 100 tonnes of salicylic acid in year X. 50 tonnes are used in
medicinal products within the scope of Directive 2001/83/EC on the Community code relating
to medicinal products for human use, 50 tonnes are used for the formulation of a non-
medicinal preparation. The 50 tonnes used for the formulation of the non-medicinal
preparation will be subject to the registration provisions and can, if their properties warrant so,
be made subject to authorisation, while the 50 tonnes used in medicinal products are
exempted from registration, evaluation and authorisation.

Legal references: Article 2 (5) (a), Article 2 (6) (a)

1.6.4.3 Substances included in Annex IV of the REACH Regulation

Annex IV currently lists 68 substances for which it is understood that sufficient information is
available to consider them as causing minimum risk to human health and the environment. These
substances are typically of natural origin and the list of exempted substances includes, for example,
corn oil and nitrogen (N2). Substances included in Annex IV are exempted from the registration
provisions.
The list is largely based on the exemptions from Regulation (EC) No 793/93 on risk evaluation of
existing substances, but more substances were added. The registration exemption applies to the
substance as such, not to a particular use.
The Commission is required, by 1 June 2008, to review this Annex and, if appropriate, propose
amendments to it. As this provision may lead to the inclusion of additional substances into Annex
IV or the exclusion of substances from it, manufacturers and importers are advised to regularly
check the list of substances in Annex IV. In the Navigator, a search engine has been implemented to
help the user check whether his substance is listed in Annex IV.

1.6.4.4 Substances covered by Annex V of the REACH Regulation

Annex V currently lists nine broad categories of substances for which registration is deemed
inappropriate or unnecessary. They are exempted from the registration provisions, but not
necessarily from authorisation or restrictions. For the full list see below.

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GUIDANCE ON REGISTRATION

The registration exemption applies to the substances as such, provided however that they meet the
conditions for the exemption which are given in the particular category of Annex V. For example,
for hydrates or hydrated ions, copper (II) sulphate pentahydrate formed by association of copper (II)
sulphate with water, will not require registration by its manufacturer provided the copper (II)
sulphate was registered (or exempted from registration).
The Commission is required, by 1 June 2008, to review this Annex and, if appropriate, propose
amendments to the Annex. As this provision may lead to the inclusion of additional categories or
substances into Annex V or the exclusion of categories from it, manufacturers and importers are
advised to regularly check the list.
ANNEX V
EXEMPTIONS FROM THE OBLIGATION TO REGISTER
IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 2(7)(b)

1. Substances which result from a chemical reaction that occurs incidental to exposure of
another substance or article to environmental factors such as air, moisture, microbial
organisms or sunlight.

2. Substances which result from a chemical reaction that occurs incidental to storage of
another substance, preparation or article.

3. Substances which result from a chemical reaction occurring upon end use of other
substances, preparations or articles and which are not themselves manufactured,
imported or placed on the market.

4. Substances which are not themselves manufactured, imported or placed on the market
and which result from a chemical reaction that occurs when:

(a) a stabiliser, colorant, flavouring agent, antioxidant, filler, solvent, carrier, surfactant,
plasticiser, corrosion inhibitor, antifoamer or defoamer, dispersant, precipitation
inhibitor, desiccant, binder, emulsifier, de-emulsifier, dewatering agent, agglomerating
agent, adhesion promoter, flow modifier, pH neutraliser, sequesterant, coagulant,
flocculant, fire retardant, lubricant, chelating agent, or quality control reagent functions
as intended; or

(b) a substance solely intended to provide a specific physicochemical characteristic


functions as intended.

5. By-products, unless they are imported or placed on the market themselves.

6. Hydrates of a substance or hydrated ions, formed by association of a substance with


water, provided that the substance has been registered by the manufacturer or importer
using this exemption.

7. The following substances which occur in nature, if they are not chemically modified.

Minerals, ores, ore concentrates, cement clinker, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas,
natural gas condensate, process gases and components thereof, crude oil, coal, coke.

8. Substances occurring in nature other than those listed under paragraph 7, if they are not
chemically modified, unless they meet the criteria for classification as dangerous
according to Directive 67/548/EEC.

9. Basic elemental substances for which hazards and risks are already well known:

hydrogen, oxygen, noble gases (argon, helium, neon, xenon), nitrogen.

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GUIDANCE ON REGISTRATION

1.6.4.5 Recycled or recovered substance already registered

The REACH Regulation exempts from registration substances which are recovered in the
Community, provided a number of conditions are met. Recycling is a form of recovery and
therefore covered by this exemption.
‘Recovery’ is currently defined in EU law as any of the recovery operations provided in Annex IIB
of the Waste Framework Directive 2006/12/EC. This list covers the following operations:
R1 Use principally as a fuel or other means to generate energy
R2 Solvent reclamation/regeneration
R3 Recycling/reclamation of organic substances which are not used as solvents (including
composting and other biological transformation processes)
R4 Recycling/reclamation of metals and metal compounds
R5 Recycling/reclamation of other inorganic materials
R6 Regeneration of acids or bases
R7 Recovery of components used for pollution abatement
R8 Recovery of components from catalysts
R9 Oil re-refining or other reuses of oil
R10 Land treatment resulting in benefit to agriculture or ecological improvement
R11 Use of wastes obtained from any of the operations numbered R1 to R10
R12 Exchange of wastes for submission to any of the operations numbered R1 to R11
R13 Storage of wastes pending any of the operations numbered R1 to R12 (excluding temporary
storage, pending collection, on the site where it is produced)

Criteria for defining when waste is no longer considered to be waste (so-called End of Waste
criteria) after recycling are currently under development in relation to the ongoing revision of the
Waste Framework Directive. Such a decision shall be taken within the legislative framework of the
Waste Framework Directive. A recovered material will only fall within the scope of the REACH
Regulation when a decision has been taken, in accordance with the provisions of the Waste
Framework Directive, that the waste it is originated from meets the End of Waste criteria and as
such is no longer waste.

The REACH Regulation sets the following conditions which have to be respected in order to benefit
from the exemption from registration:
(1) The recovered substance must have been registered. This means that if, for some reason, the
substance has not been registered at manufacturing or import stage, the recovered substance
has to be registered following the recovery operation before being put to a new use.
The legal entity performing the recovery should check whether a registration exemption
applies to the recovered substance. If this is the case, then that exemption can of course be
invoked.

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GUIDANCE ON REGISTRATION

(2) The substance already registered must be the same, i.e. have the same chemical identity and
properties, as the substance being recovered. For example, if the substance itself was
modified in the recovery and the modified substance has not been registered, then the
recovered substance has to be registered.
It should be noted that the sameness of the substance must be assessed according to the
Guidance on substance identification.
(3) The legal entity that did the recovery must ensure that information on the registered
substance is available to it, and that information must comply with the rules on information
provision in the supply chain.
This means that the legal entity who undertook the recovery must have obtained one of the
following:
• a safety data sheet, as required by Article 31 (1) or (3), on the registered substance,
• other information sufficient to enable users to take protection measures, as required by
Article 31 (4), for the registered substance, or
• the registration number, if available, the status of the substance under the authorisation
part of REACH, details of any applicable restrictions under REACH and information
necessary to allow appropriate risk management measures to be identified and applied,
as required in accordance with Article 32 (1).
Companies undertaking recovery operations and wishing to avail themselves from this exemption
are advised to ensure as much as possible that the information on the registered substance which
was put together to comply with the REACH Regulation, is available to them as well, as otherwise
they may have to register the recovered substance.
It is worth noting that this exemption does not require that the substance has been registered by an
actor in the same supply chain. Therefore, it is sufficient that a registration was filed for the
substance, either by a registrant in the same supply chain or by a registrant in another supply chain.
Note that if the recycled substance is a phase-in substance, it is recommended that the recycler pre-
registers that substance in order to benefit from the transitional provisions laid down in Article 23
and eventually be later on exempted from the registration requirements if another pre-registrant
registers the substance.
Legal reference: Article 2 (7) (d)

1.6.4.6 Re-imported substance

The registration obligation of Article 6 applies to manufacturers and importers of a substance, on its
own or included in a preparation. However, in cases where a substance is first manufactured in the
EU, then exported – for example, to be formulated into a preparation – and then brought back into
the EU again – for example, to be marketed or for further processing – this could lead to a double
registration obligation if it happens within the same supply chain: first at the stage of original
manufacture, by the original manufacturer, and a second time at the stage of import back into the
Community, by a re-importer down in the same supply chain (who may or may not be the original
manufacturer). Therefore, substances which have been registered, exported and then re-imported are
exempted from registration and evaluation under certain conditions.
The following conditions must be fulfilled to benefit from this exemption:

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GUIDANCE ON REGISTRATION

(1) The substance must have been registered before it was exported from the Community. This
means that if, for some reason, the substance was not registered at the manufacturing stage,
the substance has to be registered upon re-import.
(2) The substance already registered and exported must be the same, i.e. have the same
chemical identity and properties, as the substance being re-imported, on its own or in a
preparation. For example, if the exported substance itself was modified outside the EU and
therefore it is not the same substance which is now being re-imported, the re-imported
substance has to be registered.
Again, the reason is clear: if the substance does not have the same chemical identity, it has
not yet been registered (the registration information will be different), and therefore there
will not be duplication of registrations. Note that the re-importer has to be able to prove that
the substance is still the same. For more details on substance identification see the Guidance
on substance identification.
(3) The substance must not only be the same, i.e. have the same chemical identity and
properties, but it must actually be the same batches of the substance which are exported
from and re-imported back to the Community (whether or not processed). This is meant by
the requirement that the re-importer is “in the same supply chain”.
Example (1):

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GUIDANCE ON REGISTRATION

Example (2):

(4) The re-importer must have been provided with information on the exported substance, and that
information must comply with the rules of REACH on information provision in the supply
chain.
This means that the re-importer must have been supplied with one of the following:
• a safety data sheet, as required by Article 31 (1) or (3),
• other information sufficient to enable users to take protection measures, as required by
Article 31 (4), or
• the registration number, if available, the status of the substance under the authorisation part
of REACH, details of any applicable restrictions under REACH and information necessary
to allow appropriate risk management measures to be identified and applied, as required in
accordance with Article 32 (1).
Note that the re-importer has to be able to prove that he was provided with one of these pieces
of information.
If the re-importer can avail himself of the exemption, he will be considered as a downstream user.
Therefore, he is advised to check what downstream user obligations are applicable to him.
Note that the re-import exemption is not available if the substance is being re-imported in articles.
Legal reference: Article 2 (7) (c)

1.6.4.7 Polymer

Owing to the especially extensive number of different polymer substances on the market, and since
polymer molecules are generally regarded as representing a low concern in relation to their high
molecular weight, this group of substances is exempted from registration. Manufacturers and

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importers of polymers may nevertheless be required to proceed with the registration of the
monomers or other substances used for the manufacture of the polymers. Specific guidance is
available for polymers. See i.e. Guidance for polymers.

1.6.4.8 Substances use for purpose of product and process oriented research and
development (PPORD)

To support industry’s capacity for innovation, one of the objectives of REACH is to promote
research and development. This results in a number of exemptions from the obligations under
REACH.
Scientific research and development under REACH means any scientific experimentation, analysis
or chemical research carried out under controlled conditions in a volume below 1 tonne per year
(Article 3 (23)). A substance being used solely for such research and development is exempted from
registration.
Product and process orientated research and development: means any scientific development
related to product development or the further development of a substance, on its own, in
preparations or in articles in the course of which pilot plant or production trials are used to
develop the production process and/or to test the fields of application of the substance (Article 3
(22)).
Substances used for product and process orientated research and development (PPORD) will
receive exemption from registration if they are notified to the Agency. The notifier must pay a fee
to the Agency when applying for this.
This exemption can be for up to 5 years and applies only to the quantity of substance being used for
PPORD by the manufacturer or importer himself or in cooperation with a limited number of listed
customers. The Agency may extend the exemption period for up to a further 5 years (or 10 years in
the case of medicinal products or substances not put on the market) upon request, as long as this can
be justified by the programme of research and development presented by the applicant.
The Agency will check the completeness of the information supplied by the notifier.
The Agency could decide to impose conditions to ensure that the substance will be handled only by
staff of listed customers in reasonably controlled conditions and will not be made available to the
general public and that remaining quantities will be re-collected for disposal after the exemption
period.
For any detailed or specific issues on research and development see Guidance for PPORD.

1.6.5 Substances regarded as registered

Certain substances or uses of substances are regarded as being registered, and so no registration will
be required for these substances for these uses.
This applies to:
• active substances in biocidal products as described below,
• active substances in plant protection products as described below ,
• substances already notified in accordance with Directive 67/548/EEC (NONS).

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1.6.5.1 Active substance for use in biocides

Active substances for use in biocidal products are regarded as registered as biocidal active
substances and biocidal products and are covered by Directive 98/8/EC (Biocidal Products
Directive). To benefit from the exemption, several conditions have to be fulfilled:
(1) The substance must be an active substance for use in a biocidal product.
An active substance in the context of biocides is a substance or micro-organism including a virus or
a fungus having general or specific action on or against harmful organisms. A biocidal product may
be composed of only one active substance, without co-formulants, or it may be a preparation
including one or more active substances.
(2) The substance must be included in one of the following:
• Annex I to Directive 98/8/EC – this is the list of active substances which are authorised for use
in biocidal products; it is regularly updated and manufacturers and importers are advised to
check the latest version.
• Annex IA to Directive 98/8/EC – this is the list of active substances which are authorised for
use in low-risk biocidal products; it is regularly updated and manufacturers and importers are
advised to check the latest version.
• Annex IB to Directive 98/8/EC – this is the list of basic substances which are authorised for use
as biocidal products; it is regularly updated and manufacturers and importers are advised to
check the latest version. Basic substances are substances which only have a minor use as a
biocide and which are not directly marketed for that biocidal use.
• Regulation (EC) No 2032/2003 – this regulation lists active substances which were already on
the market on 14 May 2000 and for which information was submitted with a view to including
them in the Commission’s review programme of active substances for use in biocidal products.
However, once a decision is taken for one of the active substances on the lists of Regulation
(EC) No 2032/2003 not to include it into Annex I, IA or IB, the active substance loses the
exemption and must be registered, since its manufacturer will not have submitted the required
information to allow full assessment under Directive 98/8/EC. Decisions not to include active
substances, which are on the lists of Regulation (EC) 2032/2003, into Annex I, IA or IB of
Directive 98/8/EC will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union and may
take the form of a Commission Decision or a Commission Regulation.
Note however that only the quantities of the active substance for use in biocidal products are
exempted from the registration obligation. If they are used in another non-biocidal product, they are
not exempted. It means that in the case when a manufacturer who manufactures only for the
purpose of biocides puts the same substance on the market but for other purposes (not exempted
from registration) he has to prepare a full registration dossier, including all relevant information
including, if fulfilling conditions, the Chemical Safety Report (CSR).
Note that only active substances can qualify for the exemption and that other substances used for
producing the biocidal product are not exempted from registration.

Example:

A manufacturer manufactured 100 tonnes of quaternary ammonium compounds in year X. 50


tonnes are used as active substances in biocides (e.g. wood preservatives) and the active
substance is included in one of the acts mentioned under (2) above, the other 50 tonnes are

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used as surfactants in cleaning products. The latter use is within the scope of REACH and
has to be registered; the former use is exempted from registration.

The Agency has been charged with including the information submitted in the framework of
Directive 98/8/EC, which is equivalent to registration dossier data, into its databases. This is to
ensure that this data can be valorised where appropriate.
Legal references: Article 15 (2), Article 16, Article 56 (4) (b)

1.6.5.2 Active substance for use in plant protection products

Active substances and co-formulants for use in plant protection products (pesticides) are regarded
as registered as the plant protection products and their active ingredients and co-formulants are
covered by Directive 91/414/EEC (Directive on plant protection products) and in principle undergo
a thorough assessment, on the basis of already submitted substantial information, before they can be
placed on the market. To benefit from the exemption, several conditions have to be fulfilled:
(1) The substance must be either an active substance or a co-formulant for use in a plant protection
product.
An active substance in the context of plant protection products is a substance or micro-organism,
including a virus, having general or specific action against harmful organisms or on plants, parts of
plants or plant products. A plant protection product may be composed of only one active substance,
without co-formulants, or it may be a preparation including one or more active substances.
A co-formulant in the context of plant protection products is a non-active substance in a plant
protection product which is a preparation.
(2) The substance must be included in one of the following:
• Annex I to Directive 91/414 – this is the list of active substances which are authorised for use
in plant protection products; it is regularly updated and manufacturers and importers are
advised to check the latest version.
• Regulation (EEC) No 3600/92 – this regulation lists 90 active substances which were already
on the market on 26 July 1993 and which were the first ones to be identified for assessment
with a view to being authorised and included into Annex I to Directive 91/414/EEC.
• Regulation (EC) No 703/2001 – this regulation lists a further 63 active substances which were
already on the market on 26 July 1993 and for which their producers wished to secure inclusion
into Annex I of Directive 91/414/EEC and which were thus identified for assessment.
• Regulation (EC) No 1490/2002 - this regulation lists a further 161 active substances which
were already on the market on 26 July 1993 and for which their producers wished to secure
inclusion into Annex I of Directive 91/414/EEC and which were thus identified for assessment.
• Decision 2003/565/EC – this decision lists further active substances and micro-organisms
already on the market on 26 July 1993 for which the assessment period was extended.
• a Commission decision on the completeness of the dossier submitted pursuant to Article 6 (3)
of Directive 91/414/EEC – such decisions are taken in respect of active substances which were
not yet on the market on 26 July 1993 but for which an application for inclusion into Annex I
of Directive 91/414/EEC was submitted and deemed admissible. They concern the
admissibility of applications filed by individual legal entities and are therefore not published in

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the Official Journal, but notified to the legal entities concerned. Accordingly, relevant operators
will be aware of decisions of interest to them.
Note however that quantities of the same active substance may be used for other uses than plant
protection products, so those quantities are not exempted. Only the quantities of the active
substance for use in plant protection products are exempted from the registration obligation. If they
are used in another product, they are not exempted. It means that in the case when a manufacturer
who manufactures only for the purpose of plant protection products puts the same substance on the
market but for other purposes (not exempted from registration) he has to prepare a full registration
dossier, including all relevant information including, if fulfilling conditions, the Chemical Safety
Report (CSR).
Note that since only active substances can meet condition (2) above, only active substances can
qualify for the exemption and that other substances used for producing the plant protection
product are not exempted from registration.

Example:
A manufacturer manufactured 100 tonnes of copper sulphate in year X. 50 tonnes are used
as active substances in pesticides and the active substance is included in one of the acts
mentioned under (2) above, the other 50 tonnes are used for another use. The latter use is
within the scope of REACH and has to be registered; the former use is exempted from
registration.

The Agency has been charged with including the information submitted in the framework of
Directive 91/414/EEC, which is equivalent to registration dossier data, into its databases. This is to
ensure that this data can be valorised where appropriate.
Legal references: Article 15 (1), Article 16, Article 56 (4) (a)

1.6.5.3 Notified substances according to Directive 67/548/EEC

Directive 67/548/EEC introduced a notification requirement for so-called new substances, which
were substances not appearing on the European Inventory of Existing Commercial Chemical
Substances (EINECS). The EINECS list contains, in principle, all substances on the Community
market on 18 September 1981.
Notifications made in accordance with Directive 67/548/EEC contain a lot of the technical dossier
information which the REACH Regulation aims to have assembled by registrants through the
registration requirement. This is the reason why such notifications are regarded as registrations. The
Agency is instructed to assign registration numbers to notifications considered as registrations. It
must do so by 1 December 2008.
Manufacturer or importers of polymers which were notified according to Directive 67/548/EEC are
advised to read the (Guidance for polymers).
Legal entities are therefore advised to check whether they submitted a notification for their
substance to a Member State competent authority in accordance with the national legislation
implementing Directive 67/548/EEC. If this is the case, they have an official notification number on
file which was allocated by the Member State competent authority. The substance will in that case
also appear on the European List of Notified Chemical Substances (ELINCS).

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Notification under Directive 67/548/EC was only required if a substance was placed on the EU
market or imported into the EU. If a substance was merely manufactured in the EU, but not placed
on the market, a notification would not have been made. These substances will have to be registered
under REACH. Moreover in case when the manufacture/import volume of the notified substance
reaches the next tonnage threshold as defined in Article 12, an update of the registration for that
substance will have to be submitted to the Agency. For more details on registration update go to
section 4 and 9 of this Guidance Document.
Please note that a notification under Directive 67/548/EC is nominal so that only the notifier
benefits from being considered registered; any other parties manufacturing or importing the
substance but who have not notified it, must register, unless there is another exemption that
applies to them.
Legal reference: Article 24

1.7 WHEN TO REGISTER?

Aim: The aim of this chapter is to inform potential registrants when they should submit
their registrations to the ECHA. It explains in detail what are phase-in and not phase-
in substances and what the deadlines for registration are.
Structure: The structure of this chapter is as follows:

1.7.1 Phase-in substances vs. non phase-in substances

1.7.1.1 Phase-in substances

The REACH Regulation creates a special transition regime for substances which, under certain
conditions, were already being manufactured or placed on the market before the entry into force of
the REACH Regulation on 1st June 2007 and were not notified according to Directive 67/548/EEC.
For these substances, the registration can be submitted within deadlines foreseen by the REACH
Regulation and described in section 1.7.2.

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Such substances are called “phase-in substances”, because they are being subjected to the
registration system in different phases over time, rather than immediately in one go.
A precondition is that the phase-in substance is being pre-registered between the 1st June 2008
and the 1st December 2008.
Phase-in substances are substances which fall under at least one of the following criteria:
• The substance is listed in the European Inventory of Existing Commercial Chemical Substances
(EINECS) (Article 3 (20)(a)). The EINECS list contains, in principle, all substances on the
Community market on 18 September 1981. These are the so-called “existing substances”. The
full and exhaustive list is accessible at http://ecb.jrc.it/esis/. Note that the list has been “frozen”
and no more substances can be added to it or removed from it.
• The substance was manufactured in any of the current Member States of the EU , at least once
after 31 May 1992, without being placed on the EU market by the manufacturer or importer,
provided that the manufacturer or importer has documentary evidence of this. Such
documentary evidence can be, for example, order sheets, stock lists, or any other documents
which can be undoubtedly traced back to a date after 31 May 1992. If the substance was placed
on the market, it would normally have been notified under Directive 67/548/EEC and in that
case it will be considered as registered.
• The substance was placed on the market in any of the current Member States of the EU before
1 June 2007 by the manufacturer or importer, and is a so-called “no-longer polymer”. A NLP is
a substance which was placed on the EU market between 18 September 1981 and 31 October
1993 inclusive, was considered as notified under Article 8 (1) of the 6th amendment of
Directive 67/548/EEC (and hence did not have to be notified under that Directive), but which
does not meet the REACH definition of a polymer (which is the same as the polymer definition
introduced by the 7th amendment of Directive 67/548/EEC). Also in this case, the manufacturer
or importer must have documentary evidence that he placed the substance on the market in the
relevant territory and that it was considered as NLP (and as such considered as notified under
Article 8 (1) of the 6th amendment). Such documentary evidence can be, for example, order
sheets, stock lists, labels, safety data sheets, or any other documents which can be undoubtedly
traced back to a date between 18 September 1981 and 31 October 1993 inclusive. A non-
exhaustive list of NLPs is accessible at http://ecb.jrc.it/esis; note that it only serves information
purposes.
Please note that the transitional regime for phase-in substances also applies to on-site and
transported isolated intermediates as well as to substances in articles which need to be registered.
Note also that manufacturers and importers of phase-in substances who do not pre-register on
time, will not be able to benefit from the transitional regime provided for in Article 23. In this
case, they should have registered their substance as of 1st June 2008 before continuing their
manufacture or import as for any non phase-in substances (see section 1.7.1.2).
Legal references: Article 3 (20)

1.7.1.2 Non phase-in substance

All substances that are not fulfilling any of the criteria for phase-in substances as presented in
section 1.7.1.1 are considered as non phase-in substances. Non phase-in substances do not benefit
from the transitional regime provided for phase-in substances and need to be registered before they

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can be manufactured, imported or placed on the market in the EU, unless they have already been
notified under Directive 67/548/EEC (see section 1.6.5.3).
It is important to stress that registration of non phase-in substances will first require the submission
of an inquiry dossier to determine whether a registration or another inquiry has already been
submitted for the same substance so that data sharing mechanisms can apply. For more information
on Inquiry and data sharing processes see section 2.3.

1.7.2 Deadlines for Registration

Substances falling under the scope of the REACH Regulation and not exempted from the
registration obligation must be registered before they can be manufactured or placed on the market
(including import) in the EU. The substances, which have long been on the EU market (phase-in
substances), and the non-phase-in substances have different timelines for registration.
Substances which have not previously been placed on the EU market (non phase-in substances), and
phase-in substances which have not been pre-registered, must be registered before manufacture or
import starting 12 months after entry into force of the legislation, i.e. by 1 June 2008.
For phase-in substances, which are manufactured or imported in a quantity of 1 tonne or more per
year and which have been pre-registered between 1 June 2008 and 1 December 2008 (inclusive), the
registration provisions are applied in a stepwise way to facilitate the transition to REACH.
The transitional arrangements introduce different deadlines for registration, without the need to
interrupt the manufacture or import of these substances.
The deadlines set for the registration of phase-in substances have been based on the tonnage
manufactured or imported per manufacturer or importer or producer of articles. This follows from
the assumption that chemicals manufactured in high volumes will in many cases be more likely to
present a greater risk to humans and the environment. A greater priority has also been given to
substances of higher concern, such as carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic substances (CMR)
and substances which are very toxic to aquatic organisms and may cause long-terms effects in the
aquatic environment (classified as R50/53).
The 'phase-in' deadlines after entry into force of the Regulation are presented in the following
Table (applicable only if the substance has been pre-registered between 1st June and 1 December
2008):

Deadline to submit registration Criteria for substances


dossier to ECHA
30 November 2010 (at the latest) Phase-in substances manufactured in the Community or imported
in quantities of 1000 tonnes or more per year per manufacturer or
per importer, at least once after 1 June 2007;
30 November 2010 (at the latest) Phase-in substances classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic
to reproduction, category 1 or 2, in accordance with Directive
67/548/EEC and manufactured in the Community or imported in
quantities reaching 1 tonne or more per year per manufacturer or
per importer, at least once after 1 June 2007;
30 November 2010 (at the latest) Phase-in substances classified as very toxic to aquatic organisms
which may cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic

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environment (R50/53) in accordance with Directive 67/548/EEC


and manufactured in the Community or imported in quantities
reaching 100 tonne or more per year per manufacturer or per
importer at least once after 1 June 2007;
31 May 2013 (at the latest) Phase-in substances manufactured or imported in quantities of 100
tonnes or more per year per manufacturer in the Community or per
importer at least once after 1 June 2007;
31 May 2018 (at the latest) Phase-in substances manufactured in the Community or imported
in quantities of 1 tonne or more per year per manufacturer or per
importer at least once after 1 June 2007.

Figure 3 is presenting the registration deadlines in a graphical way.

Figure 3 Registration deadlines

Therefore, if you are a manufacturer or importer of a phase-in substance, your registration deadline
will depend on the above tonnage criteria.
Legal references: Article 23

1.8 THE REGISTRATION DOSSIER

Aim: The aim of this chapter is to present the structure of the registration dossier and to
explain briefly how to prepare it. It also explains what a joint submission of
registration data is and how to submit jointly the registration information to the
Agency.
Structure: The structure of this chapter is as follows:

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GUIDANCE ON REGISTRATION

Registration dossier –
how to prepare it and submit it to the Agency

Structure of
Registration dossier
Section 1.8.1

Access to information
and confidential data
Section 1.8.2

How to register
Section 1.8.3

Joint submission of
data
Section 1.8.4

Mechanisms of joint
Opt out possibilities
submission
Section 1.8.4.2
Section 1.8.4.1

1.8.1 Structure of Registration dossier

The 'registration dossier' is the set of information submitted electronically by a registrant for a
particular substance. It consists of two main components:
(i) a technical dossier, always required for all substances subject to the registration obligations,
(ii) a chemical safety report, required if the registrant manufactures or imports a substance in
quantities of 10 tonnes or more per year, except for substances present in preparations in a
concentration below the concentration limits in Directive 1999/45/EC (concerning the classification
and labelling of preparations) for which there is no need to submit a CSR with the registration
dossier, even if the tonnage is above 10 tonnes per year.
The technical dossier contains a set of information about:
• the identity of the manufacturer/importer;
• the identity of the substance and information on the manufacture and use of the substance;
• the classification and labelling of the substance;
• guidance on its safe use;
• (robust) study summaries of the information on the intrinsic properties of the substance derived
from applying Annexes VII to XI;
• An indication as to whether the information on manufacture and use, the classification and
labelling, the (robust) study summaries and/or, if relevant, the chemical safety report has been
reviewed by an assessor;
• proposals for further testing, if relevant;
• for substances registered in quantities between 1 and 10 tonnes, the technical dossier shall also
contain exposure related information for the substance (main use categories, type of uses,
significant routes of exposure).

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The information required to determine the properties of the substances varies according to the
tonnage in which the substance is manufactured or imported. The higher the tonnage the more
information on the intrinsic properties of the substance is required. The information requirements
are set out in the Annexes VI to XI of the Regulation. REACH foresees data sharing between
registrants to gather the required information.
Article 111 requires that the format of the technical dossier shall be IUCLID (International Uniform
Chemical Information Database). This means that also other IT tools could be used to prepare the
dossiers as long as they produce the exact same format. In this document only the preparation of the
registration dossier using IUCLID is described. The last version of this software is IUCLID 5 which
will be used as the reference in this document and for which a specific guidance is available
(Guidance on IUCLID). The IUCLID 5 software will be downloadable from the IUCLID website at
http://iuclid.eu for free by all parties, if used for non-commercial purposes.
The chemical safety report (CSR) is the documentation of the registrant's chemical safety
assessment (CSA) for his substance (or of relevant substances if the chemical safety report has been
developed for a category of substances having similar properties). Annex I reports general
provisions for assessing substances and preparing CSR. This chemical safety report contains a
detailed summary of information on the environmental and human health hazard properties of the
substance, together with an assessment of exposure and risk where such an assessment is required.
Figure 2 describes the principles of a chemical safety assessment.

Information/ data
The starting point for the chemical safety assessment is the collection of all available data on the
hazard of the substance, and human and environmental exposure occurring in relation to the
conditions under which the substance is used as well as information on the manufacture and uses.

Hazard identification, Hazard assessment, Classification, PBT and vPvB assessment.


Based on the available data, the hazard of the substance is identified and assessed including
determination of its classification in accordance with Directive 67/548/EEC, establishment of
Derived No Effect Levels (DNELs) for relevant routes of human exposure and Predicted No Effect
Concentrations (PNECs) for environmental targets. In addition, an assessment of the persistency,
bio-accumulative and toxic properties of the substance is performed to conclude whether or not the
substance fulfils the criteria set out in Annex XIII of REACH (PBT, vPvB assessment).

Exposure assessment
If the substance is classified as dangerous or fulfils the PBT or vPvB criteria in Annex XIII, an
exposure assessment and risk characterisation shall be performed and included in the CSR to
demonstrate that the risks are adequately controlled. This exposure assessment is done using
exposure scenarios for each use of the substance. Even when not legally required, the collection and
assessment of use and exposure information will also be useful for the registrant to identify whether
he falls under any specific regime for registration (e.g. intermediates) or whether this information
can be used to waive any information required. Hence, even for substances that are not (yet)
classified, the registrant may decide to focus first on gathering and assessing his use and exposure
information. If a given test is waived according to the principles set out in REACH Annex XI.3, an
exposure assessment is also required.

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GUIDANCE ON REGISTRATION

The exposure assessment consists of two steps: the generation of exposure scenario(s) (ESs) and
estimation of exposure for each ES developed (see section 8.2.3.2). Exposure scenarios are sets of
conditions that describe how substances are manufactured or used during their life-cycle and how
the manufacturer or importer controls, or recommends downstream users to control, exposures of
humans and the environment.
The exposure estimation is based on the ES, which provides a set of parameters that are the main
drivers of exposure. The ES is a placeholder of these parameters and contains specifications of the
conditions of the use. The conditions of use cover Operational Conditions (OC) (e.g. the applied
amount of substance, duration of use, process temperature, pH etc.) and Risk Management
Measures (RMM) (e.g. exhaust ventilation, waste water treatment plant, personal protective
equipment), which the registrant has implemented or, where relevant, recommends the Downstream
User(s) to implement. The first 'tentative' ES will normally reflect the current practice (current OCs
and RMMs).
The exposure assessment needs to consider all life-cycle stages of the substance resulting from the
manufacture and identified uses and covers each human population and environmental compartment
known to be, or supposed to be, exposed.

Risk Characterisation
In the risk characterisation the exposure of each human population and environmental compartment
being exposed is compared with the appropriate DNEL or PNEC. Concern is indicated if the
estimated exposure is higher than the appropriate DNEL or PNEC.
If the first estimate indicates risks, the registrant has the choice of either
• refining the hazard assessment by obtaining more data; or
• refining the exposure assessment by ensuring that the exposure estimation is realistic and
reflects the use conditions defined in the initial Exposure Scenario (ES). Models or monitoring
data can be used to this end; or
• refining the ES by introducing more stringent RMM or changing the OC in the ES.
This is an iterative process that continues until it can be demonstrated that risks are adequately
controlled.
It should be noted that for some substances, it is not possible to derive a DNEL or PNEC. This may
be due to lack of data or due to specific properties of the substance (including so-called non-
threshold effects like some types of carcinogenicity as well as substances with PBT/vPvB
properties). In these situations, the same basic steps as set out above have to be followed in deriving
appropriate ES, but the risk characterisation will be more qualitative and/or semi-quantitative.
Further guidance on the iterative nature of the Chemical Safety Assessment process will be
available in the Guidance on the Chemical Safety Report.

Final exposure scenario and communication in SDS


The final output of this process is an ES that specifies the conditions of use (RMMs and OCs)
where risks are adequately controlled for the manufacturing and use processes covered by this ES.
This is, if required, summarised and communicated in an exposure scenario attached to the Safety
Data Sheet that is provided to the user in the supply chain of the substance (see section 8.2.3.2).

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GUIDANCE ON REGISTRATION

More detailed guidance on when and how to conduct a CSA and when and how to report it to the
Agency can be found in the Guidance on the Chemical Safety Report.

When is a CSR not needed?


In some cases a chemical safety assessment does not need to be performed, such as:
• for a substance present in a preparation in a concentration below the concentration limits that
apply for the classification of substances in preparations;
• for on-site or transported isolated intermediates (for more details see the Guidance for
intermediates);
• for Product and Process Oriented Research and Development (PPORD) even if manufactured at
more than 10 tonnes per year;
• when the specific use of the substance is already regulated under more specific legislation and
the substance is therefore exempted from registration (e.g. biocides, pesticides,
pharmaceuticals)
For uses in food contact materials and cosmetics, the CSA need not address human health aspects
because these are addressed under other legislation.
Substances manufactured or imported in quantities of less than 10 tonnes per year do not require a
chemical safety report, but do require the submission of basic information on exposure.
A more extensive description of the contents of the technical dossier, the guidance on the
preparation and submission of the registration dossier and use of IUCLID can be found in Part II of
this document and in the Guidance on IUCLID.
Legal references: Article 10, Article 14, Annex VI and Annex I

1.8.2 Access to information and confidential data

Although the REACH Regulation requires information to be provided to the Agency, and
potentially exchanged with the other manufacturers and importers, some provisions (Articles 118
and 119) to protect commercially sensitive information are foreseen.
The general provisions on access to information are as follow:
• Information that is listed in Article 119 (1) and submitted in the registration dossier will be
made publicly available on the Agency website.
• A registrant may identify certain information in his registration as commercially sensitive in
accordance with Article 10(a)(xi). If the justification with regard to information listed in Article
119(2) is accepted as valid by the Agency, this information will be marked as commercially
sensitive in REACH–IT. Such information must not be published on the Agency website.
• Access to such pieces of information and other pieces of information may be granted by the
Agency on request on a case-by-case basis whenever this is foreseen in Regulation (EC) No
1049/2001. This Regulation defines cases in which public access to documents, whatever its
medium, has to be denied, for instance for reasons related to commercial interests. Where it is
not clear whether a document may or may not be disclosed, the regulation requires the Agency
to consult the owner of the document with a view to assessing whether it should or should not
be disclosed.

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GUIDANCE ON REGISTRATION

According to Article 119(2) the following pieces of information can be claimed confidential for
reasons relating to commercial interests, if justified:
• If essential to classification and labelling, the degree of purity of the substance and the identity
of impurities and/or additives which are known to be dangerous;
• the total tonnage band (i.e. 1-10 tonnes, 10-100 tonnes, 100-1 000 tonnes or over 1 000 tonnes)
within which a particular substance has been registered;
• the study summaries or robust study summaries of the information on physicochemical data
concerning the substance, on pathways and environmental fate as well as on toxicological and
ecotoxicological studies;
• certain information contained in the safety data sheet as defined in Article 119(2);
• the trade name(s) of the substance;
• the name in the IUPAC Nomenclature for non-phase-in substances which are dangerous within
the meaning of Directive 67/548/EEC for a period of six years;
• the name in the IUPAC Nomenclature for dangerous substances within the meaning of
Directive 67/548/EEC that are only used as one or more of the following:
(i) as an intermediate;
(ii) in scientific research and development;
(iii) in product and process orientated research and development.
Disclosure of the following information shall normally be deemed to undermine the protection of
the commercial interests of the concerned person, and therefore according to Article 118 this
information must not be published on the Agency website or disclosed otherwise, with an exception
when urgent action is essential to protect human health, safety or the environment:
• details of the full composition of a preparation;
• without prejudice to Article 7(6) and Article 64(2), the precise use, function or application of a
substance or preparation, including information about its precise use as an intermediate;
• the precise tonnage of the substance or preparation manufactured or placed on the market;
• links between a manufacturer or importer and his distributors or downstream users.
In contrast, the following information submitted in the registration dossier and held by the Agency
on substances whether on their own, in preparations or in articles, shall be made publicly available,
free of charge on the Agency website:
• the name in the IUPAC Nomenclature, for dangerous substances within the meaning of
Directive 67/548/EEC, without prejudice to paragraph 2(f) and (g);
• if applicable, the name of the substance as given in EINECS;
• the classification and labelling of the substance;
• physicochemical data concerning the substance and on pathways and environmental fate;
• the result of each toxicological and ecotoxicological study;
• any derived no-effect level (DNEL) or predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) established in
accordance with Annex I;
• the guidance on safe use provided in accordance with section 4 and 5 of Annex VI;
• analytical methods if requested in accordance with Annexes IX or X which make it possible to
detect a dangerous substance when discharged into the environment as well as to determine the
direct exposure of humans.

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1.8.3 How to submit a registration dossier

This section will be developed when the submission module of REACH-IT is ready. It will explain
briefly how the electronic dossier submission will work.

1.8.4 Joint submission of data by multiple registrants

Each manufacturer, importer or only representative is individually obliged to submit a registration


for each of his substances. However in cases where a substance is manufactured or imported by
more than one company, they are required to submit certain information together (see the Guidance
on data sharing for more information). This is called the joint submission of data. Registrants are
required to jointly submit information on the hazardous properties of the substance and its
classification and labelling and a testing proposal (if any), and can, if they agree, also jointly submit
the chemical safety report and guidance on safe use (Article 11). The intention is that registrants
will save money by co-operating on the preparation of the dossier and to reduce the need for testing,
in particular on vertebrate animals. For more practical information on how to gather and share
existing information see also Section 8.1.3.1.
It is important to stress that an only representative shall also be part of a joint submission when
other manufacturers, importers or representatives exist for the same substance.
Any manufacturer, importer, or where relevant, downstream user, may, whilst retaining full
responsibility for complying with his obligations under this Regulation, appoint a third party
representative for all “joint submission of data” proceedings involving discussions with other
manufacturers, importers, only representatives and where relevant downstream users. In these cases,
the identity of a manufacturer or importer or downstream user who has appointed a third party
representative shall not normally be disclosed by the Agency to other manufacturers, importers, or,
where relevant, downstream users. It is nevertheless up to the manufacturer or importer of the
substance to submit the registration, as a third party cannot register a substance for the company he
represents in the data sharing discussions.

1.8.4.1 Mechanisms of joint submission

The information that needs to be submitted jointly is submitted by one lead registrant on behalf of
the others. Other information needs to be submitted by all registrants individually. The lead
registrant of a joint submission could, for example, be the largest producer (i.e. one producer in the
higher tonnage range), as he in any case will have to register the entire data set by the first deadline.
However, this is not obligatory: the joint submission registrants have the possibility to appoint a
leader with a lower tonnage (for instance, if they have to prepare joint submissions for more
substances and decide to share the workload of managing the joint submissions). If they arrange
their joint submission like that, a lead registrant in a lower tonnage band has to provide a complete
dossier anyway (i.e. with studies for the higher tonnage) meeting the first deadline applying to any
of the registrants. For more guidance on how the registrants of a joint registration should prepare
their dossier, please read section 8.2.4. It is important to stress that the “lead registrant” will always
pay the fee corresponding only to his own tonnage band.
In terms of timing, the lead registrant will have to submit first his registration dossier. The other
registrants covered by this joint submission will be identified in this dossier. The other registrant(s)
will then have to submit their own registration dossier containing, as a minimum, the information
they need to submit separately.

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In case the lead registrant ceases manufacture, the other registrants have to appoint a new lead
registrant.
The registration fees, set by a Commission Regulation at the latest by 1 June 2008, will take into
account whether the submission is joint or separate.
Legal references: Article 11

1.8.4.2 Opt-out possibilities

A manufacturer or importer may submit common parts of the registration dossier separately (opt-
out of joint submission) in case when at least one of the reasons listed in Article 11(3), or for
substances in intermediates respectively in Article19(2), applies:
(a) it would be disproportionately costly for him to submit this information jointly, or
(b) submitting the information jointly would lead to disclosure of information which he considers
to be a Confidential Business Information (CBI), or
(c) he disagrees with the lead registrant on the selection of the information submitted in the lead
registration.
In this case the registrant has to submit along with his dossier an explanation as to why the costs
would be disproportionate, why disclosure of information was likely to lead to substantial
commercial detriment or the nature of the disagreement, as the case may be. More detailed guidance
on the opting out possibilities and mechanisms can be found in the Guidance on data sharing.

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2 DATA SHARING PROCEDURES


Aim: REACH has several provisions to facilitate the sharing of data between registrants.
This reduces testing on vertebrate animals and costs to industry. For both phase-in
and non-phase-in substances, data collected through vertebrate animal testing must
be shared, in exchange for payment.
The main communication mechanism for phase-in substances is the establishment of
the Substance Information Exchange Forum (SIEF) following pre-registration. For
non-phase in substances the mechanism is the inquiry process. The difference
between phase-in and non-phase in substances is outlined in Section 1.5.4.
Detailed guidance is provided in the Guidance on data sharing,. Therefore in this
chapter:
- the main principles of data sharing are described;
- the main principles of pre-registration are described for phase-in substances;
- the inquiry process is described in detail: when and how to prepare and submit an
inquiry dossier.
Structure: The structure of this chapter is as follows:

2. DATA SHARING
Basic principles of data
sharing procedures
Section 2.1

PHASE-IN NON PHASE-IN


SUBSTANCES SUBSTANCES
Summary of the
inquiry process
What Section 2.3.5
Section 2.3.1 Inquiry
Main principles of
Section 2.3
pre-registration
Section 2.2 Preparation and
submission of the
dossier
When Section 2.3.4
Section 2.3.2
Content of the
inquiry dossier
Section 2.3.3

2.1 BASIC PRINCIPLES OF DATA SHARING PROCEDURES

In order to facilitate data sharing, the REACH Regulation requires that, prior to registration, all
substances must either be pre-registered or an inquiry must be submitted. In general, pre-
registration is relevant for phase-in substances and the inquiry for non-phase-in and phase-in
substances that have not been pre-registered.
This applies to all potential registrants, including those who have a full set of data covering their
information requirements and those that have to make a testing proposal to the Agency in
accordance with Article 12(1) (d) and (e).

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One of the objectives of REACH is to avoid unnecessary testing, especially animal vertebrate
testing, as far as possible, while balancing this with the generation of necessary information to
identify the hazard of substances and manage the resulting risks. Duplicate animal testing has to be
avoided and tests on vertebrate animals shall only be undertaken as a last resort (Article 25). To
meet this objective, data sharing mechanisms have been developed and incorporated in the
legislation (Title III: Data sharing and avoidance of unnecessary testing).
With respect to data sharing, data must be shared for the same substance in the case of information
involving tests on vertebrate animals. Before testing is carried out on vertebrate animals, potential
registrant must request it either in the SIEF or through the inquiry process from the previous
registrant. Information not involving tests on vertebrate animals must be shared if requested by a
potential registrant of the same substance. The data sharing mechanisms aim to ensure that sharing
of costs of studies which are already available is agreed amongst potential registrants in a fair,
proportionate and non-discriminatory way. In cases where the sharing of costs cannot be resolved
amongst potential registrants, a provision to assign costs equally is included in the Regulation.
Importantly, in the case of lacking data, the aim of the sharing mechanism is for potential registrants
of the same substance to agree who will undertake the necessary data collection to ensure that the
test is carried out only once.

2.2 MAIN PRINCIPLES OF PRE-REGISTRATION OF PHASE-IN SUBSTANCES

Each potential registrant of a phase-in substance manufactured or imported in quantities of 1 tonne


or more per year must take part in the pre-registration process in order to benefit from the later
registration deadlines outlined in section 1.7.2.
In order to be able to maintain manufacture, import and marketing of a phase-in substance during
the transitional period, pre-registration is a one time process that has to take place in the period from
1 June 2008 to 1 December 2008. All manufacturers and importers of phase-in substances who wish
to take advantage of the transitional registration deadlines will need to submit their pre-registration
dossier during this period. This will allow companies to continue manufacturing and importing their
phase-in substances for several years until the registration deadline is reached. Moreover, it will
allow manufacturers and importers of the same substance(s) to initiate data sharing processes.
Manufacturers or importers not submitting a pre-registration dossier will have to register their
substance before being allowed to continue manufacture or import. They will have to submit an
inquiry dossier to the Agency, following the rules for non phase-in and non-pre-registered phase-in
substances as described in section 2.3 and then restart manufacture or import of their substance once
a registration is completed. Thus, failing to register a phase-in substance within the pre-registration
period means that the manufacturer/importer cannot benefit from the later deadlines under the
transitional regime.
In addition to this main pre-registration period, there is also a facility for potential registrants who
for the first time manufacture or import a phase-in substance in a quantity of 1 t/y or more after the
pre-registration deadline (later than 1 December 2008) to benefit from the transitional regime and
the phase-in deadlines for registration. In order to achieve this, the potential registrant would have
to submit to the Agency a pre-registration dossier within six months of first manufacturing or
importing or using the substance and no later than 12 months before the relevant registration
deadline, i.e. the deadline given in Article 23 for his tonnage band.
Guidance on pre-registration is available in the Guidance on data sharing. A user manual on how to
use the REACH IT portal to pre-register will be published once the REACH IT application is made
available and this will be in due course before the pre-registration period starts.

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2.3 INQUIRY FOR NON PHASE-IN AND NON-PRE-REGISTERED PHASE-IN


SUBSTANCES

This section outlines the Inquiry process. More information is provided in the Guidance on data
sharing.
Legal references: Article 26 and 27

2.3.1 For which substances an inquiry has to be submitted

Inquiry is the process by which every potential registrant must inquire from the Agency whether a
registration has already been submitted for the same substance. This is to ensure that data are shared
by the relevant parties. The duty to inquire applies to non phase-in substances. It also applies to
phase-in substances that have not been pre-registered.

2.3.2 When to inquire

An inquiry must be submitted before proceeding with substance registration, even in cases where
the potential registrant possesses a full set of data for meeting the information requirements, and in
cases where the potential registrant has to make a testing proposal to the Agency in accordance with
Article 12(1) (d) and (e).
Therefore, in cases where the potential registrant desires rapid access to the market it will be in his
interest to submit an inquiry as early as possible.

2.3.3 Content of the inquiry dossier

When submitting an inquiry, potential registrants are required to submit contact details, information
on substance identity and on relevant information requirements (Article 26 and Annex VI, Sections 1
and 2).

2.3.3.1 Identity of the inquirer


This will include contact details and the location of the inquirer's production site, where relevant for
the purposes of data sharing.
Pre-registration, inquiry and data-sharing procedures enable, for confidentiality purposes, to appoint
a third party representative for all activities related to the data sharing processes except for contacts
with the Agency. Any manufacturer, importer or where relevant downstream user who has used this
opportunity of being represented by the third part representative, retains full responsibility for
complying with his obligations under REACH but their identity should not normally be disclosed
by the Agency to other actors of REACH. It is nevertheless up to the manufacturer or importer of
the substance to register it, as a third party cannot register the substance for the company he
represents in the data sharing discussions.
Legal reference: Article 4

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2.3.3.2 Substance identity


For each substance, the information shall be sufficient to enable the substance to be identified. The
information required for substance identity is identical to that required in the technical dossier for
registration, and is outlined in the Guidance on substance identification.
It should be noted that providing thorough and accurate information on substance identity, taking
full account of the current guidance in this area will be essential to enable the Agency to identify
previous and potential registrants and so to minimise the burden on the registrant to generate new
data.

2.3.3.3 List of information requirements and of new studies which may be required
The information requirements for a specific substance will depend on the proposed tonnage band.
The potential registrant needs to identify the list of information requirements for their particular
substance in order to facilitate the subsequent data sharing stage.
The potential registrant shall identify:
• which information requirements would require new studies involving vertebrate animals to be
carried out by him;
• which information requirements would require other new studies to be carried out by him.
Guidance on the information needed for general registration purposes, including information
requirements under the various tonnage bands can be found in Part II of this document and in the
Guidance on information requirements.

2.3.4 Preparation and submission of the inquiry dossier

The inquiry dossier is to be prepared on line using the REACH IT web application. Guidance will
be updated as soon as REACH IT is developed.

2.3.5 Summary of the inquiry process

Upon receipt of the inquiry dossier:


• The Agency will perform a substance identification check in order to identify previous
registrants or potential registrants.
• After performing the substance identification check, if the Agency concludes that the same
substance has previously not been registered or if the information required is not available (for
instance, if the previous registration referred to a lower tonnage band), the Agency shall inform
the potential registrant accordingly and he may proceed with their registration.
• If the same substance has been previously registered less than 12 years earlier, the Agency shall
inform the potential registrant of the names and addresses of the previous registrant(s), and of
the availability of the relevant study summaries or robust study summaries already
submitted by them. The Agency shall simultaneously inform the previous registrant(s) of the
name and address of the potential registrant and the data sharing process will be initiated.
Further details on data sharing including cost sharing can be found in Guidance on data sharing.
• Any study summaries or robust study summaries submitted in the framework of a registration
under this Regulation at least 12 years previously can be used freely for the purposes of

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registration by another manufacturer or importer. In addition, it is important to note that there


may be instances where the information is generated for the purposes of complying with other
regulations which may foresee a shorter data protection period. REACH will not extend the
period of data protection under those specific legislations. In the case of an update of the
registration because a higher tonnage band is reached and information on additional studies for
this higher tonnage band is submitted, a period of 12 years starts for the new information when
it is submitted (Article 25(3)). In addition, for data that has already been submitted within a
notification dossier under Directive 67/548/EEC, these data will be freely available for the
purpose of registration, starting 12 years after the notification date.
Such study summaries and the robust study summaries will be available for download on the
Agency's website 12 years after the corresponding registration. Once downloaded by a company the
summaries can be imported and used in that company's local IUCLID database.
If several potential registrants have made an inquiry with respect to the same substance, the Agency
shall inform all potential registrants without delay of the names and addresses of the other potential
registrants. If more than one registrant subsequently decides to proceed with their registration then
they will need to submit this as part of a joint submission as outlined in section 1.8.4.
• If the Agency concludes that the substance is in fact a phase-in substance for which the pre-
registration deadline has passed, the inquirer should verify whether the conditions for late pre-
registration outlined in the Guidance on data sharing are met. If they are, they can submit the
relevant information to the Agency, participate in the data sharing mechanisms facilitated by
the Substance Information Exchange Forum (SIEF) and register in accordance with the relevant
extended registration deadlines of Article 23. However, if the conditions for late pre-
registration are not met, registration must take place before the substance is manufactured,
imported or marketed in the EU.

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3 OTHER DUTIES OF REGISTRANTS

3.1 REGISTRANTS DUTY OF COMMUNICATION

In order to prepare his registration dossier it is important that the registrant communicates with his
Downstream Users. In particular he will need information about their uses and the risk management
measures they have already put in place. Tentative Exposure Scenarios could be used for the
communication with the DU in order to refine the ES.

3.1.1 Provide a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) to customers


When supplying a substance or a preparation to another party or parties, the supplier has to provide
a safety data sheet to all the downstream users and distributors he supplies as of 1st June 2007 as
soon as the substance on its own or in the preparation falls within one of the following categories:
• it meets the criteria for classification as dangerous under Directive 67/548/EEC or the
preparation containing the substance is classified as dangerous under Directive 1999/45/EC,
• it is persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) or very persistent and very bioaccumulative
(vPvB) in accordance with Annex XIII of the REACH Regulation,
• it is included in the candidate list of substances which may be subjected to authorisation,
established according to Article 59(1).
In addition a supplier of a substance could be requested at any time by his customer to provide him
with a safety data sheet for any preparation which does not meet the criteria for classification as
dangerous but which contains (Article 31(3)):
• ≥1% (by weight) for non-gaseous preparations (or ≥0.2% by volume for a gaseous preparation)
of a substance posing human health or environmental hazard, or
• for non gaseous preparations, ≥0.1% (by weight) of a persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic
(PBT) or very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB) in accordance with Annex XIII of
the REACH Regulation or has been included in the candidate list of substances which may be
subjected to authorisation, established according to Article 59(1), or
• a substance for which there are Community workplace limits.
It is therefore highly recommended that each supplier of such substances prepares a safety data
sheet for those preparations.
When supplying a substance on its own, the Safety Data Sheet has to be prepared for the substance
itself. When supplying a substance in a preparation, the Safety Data Sheet has to be prepared for the
preparation.
There is no obligation to provide a safety data sheet for dangerous substances or preparations being
offered or sold to the general public as long as sufficient information to enable safe use of the
substance is provided, unless this is requested by a downstream user or distributor.
Annex II of the REACH Regulation gives guidance for the compilation of Safety Data Sheets. The
classification in accordance with Directive 67/548/EEC or Directive 1999/45/EC and the relevant
occupational exposure limit values and/or biological limit values, DNELs and PNECs will also be
communicated in the SDS.

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In particular the final ES developed for identified uses as part of the CSA has to be communicated
to the registrant’s customers as an annex to the SDS as this provides instructions of risk
management measures that should be in place in order to ensure adequate control of risks.
The SDS will have to be updated with the new information required by REACH for the first supply
of the substance or preparation as soon as this information is required by the different title of
REACH.
The new SDS format (as described in Annex II) applies as of 1 June 2007. However, potential
difficulties for companies in adjusting the SDS for the format change only were discussed at the
meeting of the Commission Working Group on the Practical Preparations for REACH (CWG) on
13 March 2007 and at a meeting of the CWG subgroup on enforcement on 16 May 2007. The
Member States authorities responsible for the enforcement of the SDS provisions agreed that the
first priority for enforcement should be the correctness of the content of SDS.

3.1.2 Provide other information to customers


When supplying a substance or a preparation for which a Safety Data Sheet is not required (see
section above), the supplier still has to provide some information to all the downstream users and
distributors he supplies as of 1st June 2007 (Article 32).
If the substance is subject to authorisation or subject to restriction he will have to provide the
following information to the recipient of his substance:
• the registration number, if available
• if the substance is subject to authorisation and the details of the granted authorisation or
appropriate information if authorisation has been denied
• the details of the restriction
In addition he must provide any available and relevant information about the substance that is
necessary to enable appropriate risk management.

3.2 CLASSIFICATION AND LABELLING NOTIFICATION

If the substance is subject to registration, but has not yet been registered, or if the substance is
within the scope of Article 1 of Directive 67/548/EEC and meets the criteria for classification as
dangerous and is placed on the market on its own or in a preparation above the concentration limits
specified in Directive 1999/45/EC, the registrant must electronically notify to the Agency the
information related to its classification and labelling.
This has to be done before the 1st December 2010 for substances already on the market at that date
or as soon as the substance is placed on the market for substances not yet on the market on the 1st
December 2010 (Article 116).
For substances registered before 1st December 2010 the classification and labelling will be reported
in the registration dossier and no separate notification is required.
The Agency will collate all this information on classification and labelling into a classification and
labelling inventory. Most of this inventory will be publicly accessible (in particular the
classification and labelling of the substance); other parts will only be accessible to notifiers and
registrants who have submitted information on the same substance. This inventory will indicate the
relevant registration number(s) (if available) and whether the classifications submitted for the same

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substance by different registrants or notifiers differ. In the latter case, the registrants and notifiers
are required to make every effort to come to an agreed classification, and update their
registrations/notifications as appropriate (the Guidance on C&L notification will be developed
separately).

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4 WHEN AND HOW TO UPDATE A REGISTRATION DOSSIER


Aim: The aim of this chapter is to explain when and how to update a registration dossier. It
explains all reasons why the registrant should update the registration on his own
initiative and when the authorities can request the registrant to update the registration
dossier. It also describes what the updating duties for substances regarded as
registered are.
Structure: The structure of this chapter is as follows:

The information submitted in the registration dossier to the Agency will have to be kept up-to-date.
It is the responsibility of the registrant to update his registration dossier when needed. If the
information to be updated is part of jointly submitted information, it is recommended that the lead
registrant updates his dossier.
There are basically two types of situations where a registrant needs to update his registration and re-
submit it to the Agency:
− Update on the registrant's own initiative
Registrants are required to inform the Agency about new relevant available information on the
registered substance or on their registration dossier (Article 22(1)). Any new information has to
be submitted without undue delay to the Agency in the form of an updated version of the
registration dossier. For more information see section 9.1.3.
− Update as a consequence of a decision made by the Agency or the Commission
The registrant has to update his registration as a consequence of the Agency or Commission
decision under the evaluation procedure. These updates have to be performed within the
deadline specified by the Agency/Commission in the decision. The registrant should also
consider updating his registration taking into account any decision made in accordance with
Article 60 (Granting of authorisation) and Article 73 (Commission decision on Restrictions).
For more information see section 9.1.4.
Moreover, according to Article 20(6) whenever additional information for a particular substance is
submitted to the Agency by a new registrant, the Agency is responsible to notify the existing
registrants that this information is available on the database. As a consequence the registrant has to
take this information into account and if relevant update his registration dossier. An update shall be
accompanied by the relevant part of the fee required in accordance with Title IX Fees and charges.

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− Update of substances regarded as registered


For substances regarded as registered because a notification according to Directive 67/548/EEC
has been submitted, updating of the registration dossier needs to be performed if the quantity
reaches the next tonnage threshold as defined in Article 12 (cf. Article 24). In such a case, not
only the additional information corresponding to the tonnage threshold reached has to be
submitted, but also any information corresponding to lower tonnage thresholds that had not yet
been submitted.
There is no requirement to update a registration dossier (Article 16(2)) for substances in plant
protection and biocidal products (Article 15).
Legal references: Article 22

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5 APPEAL PROCEDURES
In case when registrant or potential registrants or registrants disagree with the Agency decisions,
they can appeal against those decisions to the Agency’s Board of Appeal.
The body to revise and take decisions on the appeals brought up against Agency decisions will be
the Board of Appeal.
Related to the registration process, an appeal may be brought against Agency decisions in 5 cases:
1) in the completeness check - decision of the Agency to ask completion of a registration and
set a deadline for submission of the required information, or to reject a registration if the
registrant failed to complete his registration within the deadline set by the Agency (see
section 7.3 on rejection of the registration dossier and Article 20 (5)).
2) in the inquiry process – the decision of the Agency to give permission to the potential
registrant to refer to the information submitted by the previous registrant in his registration
dossier (Article 27(6)).
3) in the data sharing for phase-in substances - decision of the Agency to appoint a registrant or
downstream user to carry out the test on behalf of other registrants in a case where this test
is not available within the SIEF (Article 30(2)).
4) in the data sharing for phase-in substances - decision of the Agency to give permission to
all relevant registrants to refer to the information submitted by the registrant who during the
data sharing procedures refused to provide either proof of the cost of the study or the study
itself (Article 30 (3)).
5) in updating procedures – the decision of the Agency or the Commission requesting the
submission of additional information as a consequence of the evaluation procedure as
referred to in section 3 above.
All appeals must contain a statement of the grounds on which the appeal is based.
As underlined in Article 92, the appeal may be filed in writing by the registrant himself to the
Agency, at the latest 3 months after the notification of the decision (to reject the registration, to give
permission to information submitted by another registrant, to appoint a registrant to carry out a test,
to request submission of additional information) to the person concerned by the decision.
The appeal may also be filed in writing by a person other than the registrant if the decision is of
direct and individual concern to this other person. The appeal must be submitted at the latest 3
months after the date at which the decision became known to the person. For fees on the appeal,
please consult the Commission Regulation on the fees and charges payable to the European
Chemicals Agency which is foreseen to be available at the latest on 1 June 2008.
The appeal is examined in the Agency. If, after consultation with the Chairman of the Board of
Appeal, the Executive Director of the Agency considers the appeal to be admissible and well
founded he may rectify the decision within 30 days of the appeal being filed. Otherwise the
Chairman of the Board of Appeal examines if the appeal is admissible within 30 days of the appeal
being filed. If yes, he remits the appeal to the Board of Appeal for examination of the grounds.. The
Board of Appeal may exercise any power which lies within the competence of the Agency or remit
the case to the competent body of the Agency for further action.
If the result is still not to the liking of the party concerned, an action may be brought before the
Court of First Instance or the Court of Justice, contesting the decision taken by the Board of Appeal
or, in cases where no right of appeal lies before the Board, by the Agency.
Legal references: Article 90, Article 91, Article 92 and Article 94.

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6 FEES
Title IX of the REACH Regulation describes the framework for establishing a separate fee
regulation and the basic principles to be observed when creating the regulation are described. This
Commission Regulation on the fees and charges payable to the European Chemicals Agency still
needs to be adopted, at the latest by 1 June 2008.

6.1 APPLICABLE FEES AND CALCULATION OF FEES

A registrant is obliged to pay a fee for his registration as a contribution to covering the costs
imposed on the Agency and competent authorities (see Article 19 (3)). In order for the Agency to
be able to establish an invoice, the registrant is asked to submit his billing information on-line either
before the first registration is made or during the first registration process.
The system to be applied for the computation of the applicable fee shall be the following:
Once the registrant has uploaded a registration dossier to the REACH-IT system through the web-
portal of the Agency, the REACH-IT system automatically computes the applicable fee for the
dossier submitted.
When calculating the fee, the following points will be taken into consideration:
• The scale of fees fixed for the different tonnage ranges;
• An SME reduction if applicable; for this purpose the registrant will be asked to make a
declaration on-line on the web portal of the Agency;
• A reduction for joint submission, if applicable;
• The items flagged according to (the provisions on required restrictions to electronic public
access to information listed under) Article 119 (2).
As soon as possible after the submission of the registration dossier, normally in the course of the
next working day, the Agency will issue an invoice for the registration dossier(s) submitted. Upon
receipt of the invoice, the registrant shall carry out the payment as indicated in the invoice.

6.2 FEE FOR UPDATING OF A REGISTRATION DOSSIER

An update shall be accompanied by the relevant part of the fee as indicated in Article 22 (5) of the
REACH Regulation. As with a first time registration, the registrant has to submit the updated
dossier through the web-portal of the Agency and the REACH-IT system will automatically
compute the applicable fee for the update and send the relevant invoice to the registrant.

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7 DUTIES OF THE AGENCY


Aim: The aim of this chapter is to explain, for reasons of transparency, what are the duties
of the Agency after the submission of the registration dossier. It explains how the
submission number and date are assigned, what is the completeness check, what is
the registration number and how and when the relevant Member State Competent
Authorities will be informed about registrations.
Structure: The structure of this chapter is as follows:

7.1 ASSIGNING SUBMISSION NUMBER

For any submission, the REACH IT system in the Agency automatically assigns a submission
number to the registrant for the submission concerned and a submission date. The Agency IT
system without delay communicates this submission number and date to the concerned registrant.
The submission number is to be used for all correspondence regarding the relevant dossier type (e.g.
pre-registration, registration or PPORD notification). In the case of registration (including
registration of on-site isolated intermediates and transported isolated intermediates) and PPORD
notification the submission number is to be used until the registration/notification is deemed to be
complete (Article 20 (1)). It will then be replaced by the registration/notification number.

7.2 COMPLETENESS CHECK AND INVOICING PROCEDURES

The completeness check process comprises two distinct sub-processes:


• Technical completeness check
• Financial completeness check
According to the REACH legislation the technical completeness check should be performed for the
following dossier types: registration dossier (including intermediates), updated registration and
PPORD notification. The Financial completeness check should be performed for those dossier types
for which a fee is required.

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7.2.1 Technical completeness check

This process is aimed at checking the technical completeness of the dossier. The main purpose of
this check is to make sure that depending on the tonnage range all elements as required in the
legislation, in particular in Articles 10, 12 and the relevant Annexes have been provided.
After submission to the Agency each received dossier is screened for the technical completeness
using a specially created algorithm that is specific for each dossier type depending on the legal
requirements. The system checks if all required fields are filled and that all testing proposals,
derogation statements, waving statements etc. are included. In the case of a negative result, the
Agency will verify the outcome of the completeness check to make sure that the decision is fully
correct.
Considering that the rejection of the registration dossier will not be without consequences for the
registrant, the Agency intends to provide a tool within the IT system that will allow the registrant to
perform a check for the completeness of his registration dossier before its submission to the
Agency.

7.2.2 Financial completeness check

The Agency will monitor the payment of the fee as specified in the invoice. If a registrant fails to
pay the full amount by the deadline indicated on the invoice, the Agency shall set a second
reasonable deadline. If the registrant fails to meet the second deadline, the registration dossier shall
be rejected. There could be circumstances, such as internal procedures or periods of limited service
within a company, under which timely payment could be problematic. In that case it is
recommended to prepare the payment of the fee due before submitting the dossier so that the
Agency will receive the proof of payment in time before finalising the completeness check after
submission of the dossier.

7.2.3 Completeness check procedures

The Agency shall undertake the completeness check of a registration dossier within three weeks of
the submission date, or within three months of the relevant deadline of Article 23, as regards
registrations of phase-in substances submitted in the course of the two-month period immediately
preceding that deadline (Article 20(2)).
If the registration dossier is incomplete and/or the fee payment is missing, the Agency shall inform
the registrant, before expiry of the given period, as to what further information is required in order
for the registration to be complete (Article 20(2)).
The negative decision on the outcome of the completeness check will be notified to the registrant in
the form of a report indicating the points that are missing, while setting a reasonable deadline for
providing the necessary information. This decision can be challenged through the appeal procedure.
The registrant must complete his registration accordingly and submit it once more to the Agency
within the deadline set. The Agency will confirm the submission date of the further information to
the registrant and will perform a further completeness check, considering the further information
submitted.
A registrant may start or continue the manufacture or import of a substance or production or import
of an article, if there is no indication to the contrary from the Agency within 3 weeks after the
submission date (Article 21(1)).

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7.3 REJECTION OF THE REGISTRATION DOSSIER

In case the registrant fails to complete his registration for the second time within the deadline set,
the Agency will reject his registration. This decision can be challenged through the appeal
procedure. The registration fee will not be reimbursed and the company will not be allowed to
manufacture or import this substance within the EU (Article 20(2)).

7.4 ASSIGNING A REGISTRATION NUMBER

Once the registration is complete the REACH IT system at the Agency automatically assigns a
registration number to the registrant for the substance concerned and a registration date that will be
the same as the submission date. The Agency without delay communicates the registration number
and date to the concerned registrant. From that moment on the registrant shall use the registration
number for the subsequent correspondence regarding registration procedures (Articles 20 (3)).
Moreover, the registration number will have to be incorporated in the SDSs for any supply after
reception of that registration number.
For a given substance, distinct dossier types may apply. For example, a substance initially notified
as a PPORD may require the submission of a registration dossier at the end of the exemption period
if the PPORD leads to a commercial use of the substance. Also, a substance for which initially a
notification of the classification and labelling was submitted may later lead to the submission of a
registration dossier. In those cases, the substance will hold an identification number of each kind, a
PPORD number and a registration number in the first above example, and a C&L number and a
registration number in the second above example. All those numbers are called “reference numbers”
and will have the following structure: <TYPE>-<BASE-NUMBER>-<CHECKSUM>-<INDEX-NUMBER>
where:
· <TYPE> is a 2-digit number giving the type of number:
- 01 Registration
- 02 C&L notification
- 03 Substance in article
- 04 PPORD
- 05 Pre-registration
- 06 Inquiry
- 07 On-site isolated intermediates
- 08 Transported on-site isolated intermediates
- 09 Data holder notification
· <BASE- is a 10-digit number 5
NUMBER>
· <CHECKSUM> is a 2-digit number

· <INDEX- is a 4-digit number giving the index of a member in a


NUMBER> joint submission.

5 This number has been amended in May 2008. Please refer to page 110 et seq. for further information.

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7.5 INFORMING THE RELEVANT MEMBER STATE COMPETENT


AUTHORITY

According to Article 20(4) within 30 days of the submission date, the Agency has to notify the
Competent Authority of the Member State within which the manufacture takes place or the importer
is established, that the registration has been submitted and that the registration dossier together with
the submission or registration number and date as well as the result of the completeness check is
available in the Agency database.
If the manufacturer has production sites in more than one Member State, all relevant Member States
will be notified.
The Agency should also notify about any request for further information including deadlines set and
when any further information submitted by the registrant is available on the Agency database.

7.6 AGENCY PROCEDURE IN THE CASE OF A REGISTRATION UPDATE

Whenever a new registrant submits to the Agency additional information for a particular already
registered substance, the Agency shall notify the existing registrants that this information is
available in the database (Article 20(6)). As a consequence, this may lead to the update of the
existing registrations (see section 4 and 9).

7.6.1 Completeness check of a registration update

The completeness check of an updated dossier will include a comparison with the previously
submitted version of the dossier.

7.6.2 Informing relevant Member State Competent Authority about an update

As soon as the updated dossier(s) is complete the Agency shall inform the relevant Member State
Competent Authority about an update (Articles 22(1), 22(2)).

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PART II: DETAILED GUIDANCE ON HOW TO PREPARE A


REGISTRATION DOSSIER

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8 PREPARATION OF REGISTRATION DOSSIER


This part of the guidance describes how to prepare a registration dossier. It does not take into
consideration whether the dossier is prepared as part of a joint submission or not. Joint submission
processes are described in section 1.8.4. In addition the Guidance on data sharing can also be
consulted.

8.1 FULFILLING THE INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS

8.1.1 Introduction

In this section, guidance is provided on the obligations that apply to registrants regarding the
information to be submitted in the registration dossier according to Article 10. Most of the
information to be submitted, particularly in the technical dossier relates to the intrinsic properties of
the substance even if registrants have also to gather information on uses and exposure. Therefore
this document provides mainly guidance on registrants' obligations regarding the general process of
submission of information in particular related to intrinsic properties. Further detailed guidance is
provided in the Guidance on information requirements.
It is recognized that in the case of import of a preparation, it can be difficult to obtain information
on the composition of the preparation from the non EU supplier. However, also under existing
Community legislation (e.g. for classification and labelling of preparations) importers need to know
which substances are present in the preparations being imported to be sure they are complying with
the law. It will be up to companies to improve the communication through their supply chain to
ensure their compliance with REACH. In case disclosure of the composition of the preparation may
have consequences, the non EU exporter has the possibility to appoint an only representative, as
explained in section 1.5.3.4.
Manufacturers and importers have to collect all available existing information on the intrinsic
properties of a substance regardless of tonnage manufactured or imported as well as on its
manufacture and uses. This information has in turn to be compared with the standard information
requirements, which depend on the quantity of the given substance for each manufacturer or
importer. As indicated in Annex VI this is done following a four step process which will be further
described in the following sections.
Annexes VII to X specify the standard information requirements according to four tonnage bands
from 1 tonne per year to ≥ 1000 tonnes per year (cf. Article 12). For the lowest tonnage level, the
standard requirements are in Annex VII, and when a new tonnage level is reached, the requirements
of the corresponding Annex have to be added. The Annexes thus need to be considered as a whole
and in conjunction with the overall requirements of registration, evaluation and the duty of care as
detailed in Table 1. These standard requirements may, however, be adapted (waived or increased)
when appropriately justified (Annexes III and VI to XI). Accordingly, for each substance the precise
information requirements may differ, according to the available information on inherent properties
as well as to tonnage, use and exposure.

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Table 1 Annexes requirements depending on tonnage bands

Tonnage bands Annex VI Annex VII Annex VIII Annex IX Annex X Annex XI
1 – 10 t/y x x x
(+ Annex III)
10 – 100 t/y x x x x
100 – 1000 t/y x x x x x
≥1000 t/y x x x x x x

It has to be stressed that where possible the registrant is obliged to share or generate data with other
registrants of the same substance, instead of generating data by himself if this would involve animal
experiments (see Guidance on data sharing).
Information on intrinsic properties of substances may be generated by using sources of information
other than in vivo testing, provided that the conditions set out in Annex XI are met. The registrant
may use a variety of alternative methods such as (Q)SARs ((Quantitative) Structure Activity
Relationships), in vitro tests and grouping of substances / category approach and read across
approach.
All these different sources of information can be used also in a weight of evidence approach.
Where tests on substances are required to generate information on intrinsic properties of substances,
they must be conducted in accordance with the test methods laid down in the relevant Commission
Regulation (still to be adopted) or in accordance with other international test methods recognised by
the Commission or the Agency. Ecotoxicological and toxicological tests and analyses must be
carried out in compliance with the principles of good laboratory practice (GLP) or other
international standards recognised as being equivalent by the Agency or the Commission and with
the provisions of Directive 86/609/EEC.
A key feature of REACH is the close parallel and iterative relationship between the Chemical
Safety Assessment (CSA), the Risk Management Measures and the process of gathering and/or
generating information on the properties of a substance as explained in section 1.3. Each of these
must inform and feed-back to the others. Accordingly, the registrant should provide appropriate
information on the intrinsic properties of substances that is useful for performing the Classification
and Labelling (C&L) and the Chemical Safety Assessment (CSA) as required by Article 12 and
section 0.5 of Annex I. The results of the CSA may indicate that in the next iteration further
information needs to be generated. Extensive guidance on the Chemical Safety Assessment is
available in Guidance on the Chemical Safety Report.

8.1.2 Use of information from other assessments


As stated under Annex I Chapter 0.5, "Available information from assessments carried out under
other international and national programmes shall be included…..Deviations from such
assessments shall be justified". Therefore registrants need to take into account and to use these
already available assessments to prepare their registration dossier. This includes in particular
assessments carried out under other Community programmes such as the Existing Substances Risk
Assessment Programme, assessments of active substances under the Biocidal Products Directive or
the Plant Protection Products Directive when such substances are covered by REACH.
Another important source is the OECD HPV (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development High Production Volume) chemicals programme where a lot of similarities exist with

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REACH. Therefore in order to avoid duplicative efforts and to save resources coordination between
this programme and the REACH regulation is clearly needed.
In Annex I of chapter 1 of the "OECD Manual for Investigation of HPV Chemicals"
(http://www.oecd.org/document/7/0,2340,en_2649_34379_1947463_1_1_1_1,00.html), a document
has been developed highlighting the synergies between REACH and the OECD HPV Chemicals
Programme. From this document it is clear that the output of the OECD HPV Chemicals
Programme can contribute to REACH implementation in specific REACH processes and
particularly for the formation of Substance Information Exchange Fora (SIEFs) as well as for
registration. Many of the requirements to manufacturers/importers when preparing a registration
dossier in the framework of REACH are similar or identical to the requirements of the OECD HPV
Chemicals Programme such as:
• All substance related information will be reported in IUCLID 5: the templates of IUCLID 5
have been harmonised with OECD and as such key study data are reported in the OECD
Robust Study Summaries format.
• Consistent guidance is applied when waiving information requirements using the chemical
category approach or (Q)SARs
• New information is generated using the OECD Test Guidelines, when available
• When writing the CSR, formats and the content requirements for the hazard assessment part are
fully compatible with those of the OECD SIDS Initial Assessment Report (SIAR).
The technical similarities between REACH and the OECD HPV Programme are listed in the OECD
document.
As a consequence, OECD SIDS Dossier and SIDS Initial Assessment Report (SIAR) can be used to
prepare a REACH registration dossier, though for the purposes of REACH that dossier will
necessarily need to contain additional information. This also means that parts of a SIDS Dossier and
SIAR can be directly extracted from a REACH registration dossier.
The technical similarities between the two programmes allow for writing the hazard assessment part
of a CSA (CSR) for registration under REACH using and moderately modifying a SIAR. Similarly
a SIAR can be written using the hazard assessment part of the CSR, with deletions and minor
modifications.
The OECD document also proposes a way forward on how to use the SIDS documents/REACH
registration dossiers for the preparation of respectively REACH registration dossiers/SIDS
documents and three cases have been differentiated depending on the registration deadline for
REACH and therefore the presence or absence of a SIDS dossier.
In conclusion, in order to avoid duplicative efforts of both registrants and Agency/Member States,
similarities between the REACH regulation and the OECD HPV Chemicals Programme should be
taken into account when preparing or evaluating registration dossier where an OECD SIDS/SIAR is
available.

8.1.3 The process of fulfilling information requirements

Annex VI describes a general scheme on the process and four steps to be followed by the registrant
to fulfil the information requirements for a given substance:
Step 1: Gather and share existing information
Step 2: Consider information needs

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Step 3: Identify information gaps


Step 4: Generate new information or propose a testing strategy
A comprehensive guidance document on information requirements under REACH has been
developed. It contains a general guidance on these four steps. A General Decision Making
Framework (GDMF) has been developed and describes in more detail the four steps listed above. In
addition it includes endpoint specific guidance including endpoint specific Integrated Testing
Strategies (ITS) (e.g. for aquatic toxicity, mutagenicity). It is recommended to consult this guidance
before compiling a registration dossier and in particular before performing any testing, or in case of
tests included in Annex IX or X before submitting a testing proposal.
The Guidance on information requirements has been developed to assist registrants meet the
information requirements for their substance by considering all types of information and their
potential sources. Advice is given on identification of information sources and how to ensure the
reliability of the information used as well as its adequacy and fitness for purpose. It also explains
when and how to use in vitro and non-test information, approaches for grouping substances in
categories and the use of "read across" of information between substances.
The Guidance on information requirements provides assistance in developing a reasoned
justification for applying adaptations (i.e. derogations/waiving) from the standard testing regime,
and, in some cases also identifies the need for additional testing (which may be triggered by
available data showing hazardous effects at a lower information level). For each of the endpoints,
the requirements of the relevant Annexes are explained and an interpretation of the different
descriptors for exposure considerations used in these annexes is provided.
In the present document, only the obligations and main processes to be followed according to the
four steps procedure of Annex VI will be addressed. For more information the Guidance on
information requirements should be consulted.
In case of joint submission, communication between the registrants within a SIEF is required before
going into these different steps (see section 1.8.4 on joint submission).

8.1.3.1 Step 1: Gather and share existing information

The registrant has to gather all existing available information on the substance, both from in-house
files and from any other sources, which may be useful to inform on the properties of that substance.
Articles 11 or 19 require that, when several legal entities need to register the same substance,
registrations are submitted jointly enabling test data to be shared. In case of joint submission
information on intrinsic properties of the substance should be shared as far as possible and
submitted by the lead registrant on behalf of the others. More guidance on this issue can be found in
the Guidance on data sharing.
The information to be gathered refers to:
• Testing data: i.e. all in vivo or in vitro testing data,
• Non-testing data: from computational tools i.e. data obtained with (Q)SAR models, or obtained
by grouping of substances or read across etc. Further information on the use of these non-
testing methods is available in the Guidance on information requirements (Section 6)
• Information on manufacture, uses and risk management measures and resulting exposures
The registrant must perform a thorough, reliable and well documented information gathering.

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Information generated from (Q)SAR or by the application of a read across from one chemical to
another should be treated like any other information when gathering information. The process on
how to fill and submit a registration dossier will not be different when such information is provided.
However, registrants who want to submit a registration dossier for a substance as part of a chemical
category need to consult the specific guidance developed in the Guidance on information
requirements (section 6) where a stepwise approach for developing chemical categories is proposed
(see also the text box below).

Information required when grouping of substances/category approach is applied


Registrants have to submit a registration dossier for each substance that they need to
register, regardless of whether the substance is part of a category or not. Nevertheless, all
available and relevant necessary information on all members of the category, including those
not intended to be registered, need to be gathered in the registration dossier, as this
information is the basis to justify the relevancy and adequacy of the data reported on the
properties of the registered substance.
IUCLID 5 offers special features to facilitate the work of the registrant in developing
categories (see section D.6. in the Guidance on IUCLID).
The building of a chemical category may involve one or several registrants depending on the
given situation:
• The registrant builds a chemical category for his own substances

• The registrant builds a chemical category for his own substances but with input from
other registrants with similar substances.

• The registrant builds a joint category together with registrants of other substances for
a number of substances that can be used by all registrants.

The data for each substance being part of a category should be shared with other registrants.
The registrants of the different substances that can form a category can decide to prepare
together the data set for the full category, which could be used for the registration of all
individual substances. In case there are disagreements between registrants, there is a
possibility for one or more registrant to opt out from the joint registration and build its own
category. For details, see the Guidance on data sharing.

For each available piece of information the registrant must evaluate its adequacy, relevance and
reliability. Thus the registrant must for each endpoint assess whether the available information
gathered:
• is relevant and of sufficient quality,
• fulfils the specific requirements triggered by tonnage as described in Annex VII to X, and
• is appropriate for hazard classification, identification of Persistent Bioaccumulative and Toxic
substances (PBT) or very Persistent and very Bioaccumulative substances (vPvB) as well as for
risk assessment.
The outcome of this assessment should allow the registrant to determine which studies can be used
in the hazard assessment, whether a specific study should be used as a key study (see text box
below) for an endpoint or as supporting information and which studies can be used as part of a
weight of evidence approach (more guidance on weight of evidence approaches can be found in the
Guidance on information requirements).

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Determination of the key study or key studies


A key study is the study that has been identified as the most suitable to describe an endpoint
from the perspective of quality, completeness and representativity of data 6 . When several
results are available for a given endpoint there can be several key studies.
For substances with more than one study available for an endpoint, the study or studies
giving rise to the highest concern, taking into account quality, adequacy (reliability and
relevance) and a weight of evidence approach should normally be used as the key study or
studies for the assessment of the substance. In case another study is used as key study this
should be fully justified in the technical dossier for the study being used as well as for all
studies demonstrating a higher concern.

All the relevant available information should then be documented in the form of a study summary
or a robust study summary in IUCLID format. More guidance on when to provide a robust study
summary or a study summary is available in section 8.2.2.6.

8.1.3.2 Step 2: Consider information needs

The registrant must identify precisely what the information requirements for the substance are.
REACH requires the submission of information on:
• Substance identity
• Physicochemical properties
• Mammalian toxicity
• Ecotoxicity
• Environmental fate, including abiotic and biotic degradation.
• Information on manufacture and use(s) as well as risk management measures
Regardless of tonnage, the registrant must always provide all relevant physicochemical,
toxicological and ecotoxicological information that is available to him even if not required (e.g.
information he holds himself or that he can obtain from other information sources). He has to fulfil
the standard information requirements on intrinsic properties as laid down in column 1 of Annexes
VII to X for substances manufactured or imported in a certain tonnage band, and when a new
tonnage level is attained, the information requirements of the corresponding Annex must be added.
In addition he needs to submit information on manufacture and use(s) as laid down in Article 10 and
Annex VI.
In each of the Annexes VII to X, column 2 lists specific criteria, e.g. exposure or hazard
characteristics, according to which the standard information requirements for individual endpoints
may be modified (adapted), i.e. specifying possibilities for waiving the requirements for certain
information or in certain cases defining the need for additional information. When waiving
information, i.e. not providing the information requested in one of the Annexes, based on the
condition in column 2 of the relevant Annex, the registrant must provide adequate justification and
include this in the registration dossier.
In addition to these specific rules, the registrant may adapt the required standard information
requirements according to the general rules contained in Annex XI which refers to situations where:
• testing does not appear scientifically necessary. This can be the case when appropriate
information can be obtained using existing data, non-testing methods ((Q)SARs, on read-across
or a grouping approach), and in vitro methods;

6 OECD (2006) Manual for investigation of HPV Chemicals. Chapter 2: SIDS, the SIDS plan and the SIDS Dossier.

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• testing is technically not possible;


• a test may be omitted based on exposure information (note that this only applies to information
requirements in Annex IX-X and in sections 8.6 and 8.7 in Annex VIII).
In all cases adequate and reliable documentation supporting the adaptation of the information
requirement must be provided. Further guidance on these rules/conditions is detailed in the
Guidance on information requirements and in Guidance on the Chemical Safety Report.
Furthermore, the Commission must adopt criteria for what constitutes adequate justification for
waiving of testing based on exposure information as described in Annex XI section 3 by 1st
December 2008.
It should be noted that a registrant of a substance for which the information requirement based on
the tonnage band is in Annexes VII or VIII might have to prepare a testing proposal for higher tier
tests of Annexes IX or X, if he considers this necessary, in order to gain more information on the
hazardous properties of its substance, as in the following examples:
• The available information on an endpoint is inconclusive on the hazard.
• Further testing is triggered by structural alerts.
• The chemicals safety assessment (CSA) indicates that there is a risk and the registrant decides
to refine the DNELs/ PNECs or the PECs (requesting further environmental fate information)
instead of applying RMM.
• There is a need to identify or refine the assessment of a certain hazardous property and this
could have an impact on the classification and labelling of the substance.
• There is a need to improve the PBT/vPvB assessment (e.g. when the PBT assessment is based
only on screening test results like log Kow, ready biodegradability test results).

Considerations for phase-in substances manufactured or imported between 1 to 10 tonnes per year.
In case of phase-in substances between 1 to 10 tonnes, the information requirements in Annex VII
(except for physico/chemical properties) can be waived if none of the criteria laid down in Annex III
are met. More guidance is available in Guidance on information requirements. It should be borne in
mind, however, that the requirement to submit all available information applies also in these cases.

8.1.3.3 Step 3: Identify information gaps

In this step the registrant has to compare the information requirements identified in step 2 with the
information gathered in step 1 and identify where there are information gaps and consider how
missing information can be generated. The registrant has therefore first to assess the information
gathered by using usually a weight of evidence approach in order to determine whether the
information requirements are already met or if this not the case.
If at the end of the assessment process the information is considered insufficient, then the registrant
should go to step 4.
Registrants have also the flexibility to provide data beyond their obligations as listed in Annexes VII
to X, when they consider it necessary to fulfil their obligations to ensure safe handling and use of
their chemicals. It should be noted, however, that when these tests concern the tests listed in
Annexes IX-X a testing proposal has to be submitted prior to performing any test and a scientific
justification for the need of these test should be included. This testing proposal has to be evaluated
by the Agency.

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8.1.3.4 Step 4: Generate new information or propose a testing strategy.

When there is an information gap which cannot be filled by any of the non-testing methods
mentioned in step 2, the registrant has to take action depending on the missing test/information
identified in step 3:
• when Annexes VII or VIII apply the registrant has to generate new information according to the
guidance given in the Guidance on information requirements;
• when Annexes IX or X apply the registrant has to prepare a testing proposal in any case and
submit this as part of his registration dossier to the Agency for its consideration (note that this
also applies to non-vertebrate animal tests listed in Annexes IX and X). The choice of the
relevant test to be performed should be made based on the application of so-called Integrated
Testing Strategies (ITS) developed for each endpoint. For further guidance on ITS chapter 7 of
the Guidance on information requirements should be consulted. In this case, the registrant has
to implement and/or recommend to downstream users interim risk management measures while
awaiting the outcome of the Agency decision regarding the test proposal and the subsequent
conduction of the test proposed.
When new testing is carried out, procedures in accordance with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP)
must be followed for environmental (including ecotoxicity and fate) or toxicological tests (Article
13(4)) and the test methods used must be in accordance with the tests methods laid down in a
Commission Regulation or in accordance with other international test methods recognised by the
Commission or the Agency as being appropriate (Article 13(3)). Other methods may also be used
provided that the conditions set out, in Annex XI and exemplified in the Guidance on information
requirements, are met, in particular:
• they are adequate for the purpose of classification and labelling and/or risk assessment;
• sufficient documentation is provided to assess the adequacy of the study;
It is important to stress that testing on animals should be seen as the last resort. Testing on animals
should only be proposed when the registrant considers it necessary to obtain additional information
for assessing and documenting that risks are adequately controlled.
All the above conditions should be considered, not only to design fit-for-purpose in vivo tests, but
also for providing a justification for not performing in vivo testing under certain circumstances.
When preparing a testing proposal, the registrant must provide a justification that:
• the testing is necessary:
• for the purpose of bringing the registration dossier into compliance (i.e. the testing
proposal is needed to fulfil the REACH information requirements);
• as the results will increase the knowledge on the dangerous properties of the substance in
order to protect human health or the environment. This is particularly important when
additional testing for endpoints beyond the standard information requirements are
proposed (See more information in section 2.1 of the Guidance on evaluation).
• the testing proposal is adequate, i.e reliable and relevant (as defined in the Guidance on
information requirements);
Following the examination by the Agency of the testing proposal, the registrant receives a formal
decision and has to take appropriate action within the deadlines set by the Agency (unless he
decides to appeal against the decision of the Agency). For more details see the Guidance on
evaluation.

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8.2 GENERATION OF THE REGISTRATION DOSSIER

All relevant and available information has to be documented in both the technical dossier and for
substances manufactured or imported in quantities of 10 tonnes or more per year per registrant in
the chemical safety report (CSR). At least all the information required under Article 10(a) for the
technical dossier and under Article 10(b) for the chemical safety report (CSR) needs to be
documented in the recommended reporting formats which must be, for the technical dossier,
IUCLID (Article 111).
Tasks to be undertaken:
• Document the technical dossier with all relevant and available information according to Article
10 and Annexes VI to XI in IUCLID (see section 8.2.2)
• Carry out the Chemical Safety Assessment (CSA) for substances manufactured or imported in
quantities of 10 tonnes or more per year per registrant (see section 8.2.3)
• Carry out the hazard assessments (human health, environment, physico-chemical
properties) and the PBT/vPvB assessment
• If the substance is dangerous according to the criteria of Directive 67/548/EEC or
assessed as PBT/vPvB document:
− Define and carry out the exposure assessment(s) (including exposure scenario(s)).
− Carry out the risk characterisation.
• Record the results of the CSA in the Chemical Safety Report (CSR) format
Once generated the registration dossier is submitted to the Agency using REACH IT as described in
Figure 4.

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Dossier header
Identity of registrants

technical
Substance European
dossier IUCLID
information Chemicals
dossier
Agency

Submission via
REACH-IT
CSR (stand alone
document attached to
the IUCLID file)

Figure 4 Structure and format of the registration dossier prepared using IUCLID

8.2.1 IUCLID

This part of the document gives more detailed guidance on how to use IUCLID 5 for the
preparation of the registration dossier. IUCLID 5 software will be downloadable from the IUCLID
website [http://iuclid.eu] for free by all parties, if used for non-commercial purposes.
IUCLID 5 was developed for entering, storing and disseminating information on the properties and
uses of substances. In particular, for each endpoint, harmonised data templates 7 have been
developed in cooperation with the OECD so that IUCLID 5 can be used in different chemical
assessment programmes, like the OECD HPV Chemicals Programme, US HPV Challenge
Programme, Japan Challenge Programme, EU Biocides Directive as well as the EU REACH
regulation. More information, such as information on exposure can also be stored in less structured
but specific fields.
IUCLID 5 can also be used for preparing parts of the assessment reports. In particular, there are
endpoint summary sections which allow the user to report the justification and summary of the
assessment at each endpoint level that could be used for the equivalent section in the Chemical
Safety Report (CSR). Some of these endpoint summary sections also exist at (eco)toxicological
properties level, to report DNELS and PNECs.
All available and relevant information has to be reported in IUCLID. The decision of what is
relevant is up to the registrant but the some issues can be taken into consideration as detailed in
section 8.2.2.

7 An OECD harmonised template is a standard format for reporting a summary of the results of a test on a chemical to
determine its properties or effects on human health and the environment (e.g. hydrolysis, skin irritation, repeat dose
toxicity, etc.). These templates can be used for reporting summary results for testing on any type of a chemical(e.g.
pesticides, biocides, industrial chemicals).

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8.2.2 Generation of the technical dossier

8.2.2.1 Level of detail of information to be reported in the technical dossier


It is recommended to report all available data, whether valid or not, so that all the work of gathering
data is documented. The level of detail when reporting those data may vary considerably depending
on the data as discussed further in this section. This might be in particular important when the
registrant is confronted with several tests with conflicting results.
The registrant should make every effort to report original data rather than results obtained from
literature reviews. This, in particular, to avoid reporting the same results several times.
The level of detail needed to be reported in IUCLID depends on each situation. For key studies, it is
important that as many details as necessary to describe the test protocol and justify the validity of
the result are reported. For information that has been judged as of insufficient quality by the
registrant, a justification should be given, in particular, for all studies potentially demonstrating a
higher concern than in the retained information. For data that are judged of insufficient quality and
which would demonstrate a lower concern, only a minimum level of detail can be reported such as
the reference of method and the result.
Guidance on assessing the reliability of the studies is available in section 4.2 of the Guidance on
information requirements. In particular, a scoring system developed by Klimisch et al (1997) to
assess the reliability of data, particularly from toxicological and ecotoxicological studies, that may
be extended to physico-chemical and environmental fate and behaviour studies is described. This
system distinguishes 4 levels of reliability which can be reported in IUCLID:
1: reliable without restrictions; 2: reliable with restrictions; 3: not reliable; 4: not assignable
All information needs to be reported in an endpoint study record in IUCLID 5. When there are
several sources of information on a given endpoint several study records can be reported. In
addition it is recommended to also provide information in the endpoint summary on the different
information gathered on a particular endpoint (e.g. acute toxicity to fish) or a more general
assessment (e.g. ecotoxicological information). Definitions of endpoint study record and endpoint
summary are detailed in the box below and more information is available in section B 4.2.2 of the
Guidance on iuclid.

Endpoint study record


An endpoint study record as defined in IUCLID 5 provides a standard format for reporting the
results of a test on a chemical, with predefined fields and free text prompts which helps the
user to summarise a study. The information is entered and stored in the fields provided on the
data entry window of IUCLID.

Endpoint summary
An endpoint summary includes the summary of the evaluation made of all relevant study
summaries or robust study summaries compiled in a specific IUCLID section. On the endpoint
level (e.g. short-term toxicity to fish), an endpoint summary should focus on the most important
information, i.e., most critical results and conclusions, and justify the use of certain studies for
this hazard identification. This information can come directly from a key study, but it can also
be derived from a weigh of evidence approach or any other means.
The purpose of endpoint summaries is to describe and summarise the result of the evaluation
made on all available information for a specific endpoint and conclude on the assessment for
that endpoint. "Endpoint summaries" are also available at a higher level of the IUCLID
hierarchy, such as "ecotoxicological information", and their purpose is to document information
that is needed for the chemical safety assessment, such as PNECs or DNELs.

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8.2.2.2 IUCLID templates


The registrant needs to report in the technical dossier all relevant and available information on the
substance. As the standard information requirements depend on the tonnage manufactured or
imported, the registrants can select the appropriate template depending on the tonnage level of
registered substance. In these dossier templates all relevant sections to be filled for fulfilling the
requirements under Article 10(a) are highlighted. The different templates for the technical dossier
available in IUCLID 5 are reported in Table 2.
As REACH requires that all relevant available information shall be gathered in the technical
dossier, the registrant should document all the studies he has and not only those required by a
specific tonnage band. As a consequence the registrant should not rely only on the highlighted fields
in the selected IUCLID 5 template to be sure to comply with REACH and should anyway document
all relevant available information gathered. The REACH template in IUCLID 5 should be used only
as a starting point in the preparation of the technical dossier but, as it is only based on the tonnage,
the registrant should still check if he is in compliance with the REACH requirements, that is, if he
does not need to provide additional information as explained in section 8.1.3.4.

Table 2 IUCLID 5 templates for the registration dossier

IUCLID 5 registration dossiers Comments


REACH registration 1 – 10 tonnes, physico-chemical requirements Used in case of stand alone registration or by lead
registrant in case of joint registration (see section
REACH registration 1 – 10 tonnes, standard requirements 8.2.4.1)
REACH registration 10 – 100 tonnes
REACH registration 100 – 1000 tonnes
REACH registration above 1000 tonnes
REACH registration member of a joint submission – general case Used by members of a joint submission (not the
lead registrant) (see section 8.2.4.2)
REACH registration member of a joint submission – intermediates
REACH registration on-site isolated intermediates above 1 tonne Used in case of stand alone registration or by lead
registrant in case of joint registration (see section
REACH registration transported isolated intermediates 1 – 1000 tonnes 8.2.4.1)
REACH registration transported isolated intermediates above 1000 tonnes

The registrant must then fill IUCLID 5 fields by using the information gathered earlier in the
process. The way to fill the different fields as well as the level of details needed is described in the
following sections. In order to facilitate the work of the registrant this guidance for preparing the
technical dossier has been developed in following the structure of IUCLID 5 but with clear links to
the information requirements described in Article 10 and Annex VI. Furthermore a summary of the
information listed in Article 10 and the corresponding sections in Annex VI and IUCLID 5 file is
provided in Table 3.
When filling the technical dossier (using IUCLID 5) the registrant has to remember that this is
closely linked to the assessment of the substance and that some parts (e.g. hazard assessments) of
the chemical safety assessment might have been performed even for substances below 10 tonnes per
year (See also section 1.3).

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Table 3 Relation between information required under Article 10 and the corresponding sections in Annex VI and IUCLID 5 file

Article 10 Annex VI IUCLID 5


(a) technical dossier
(i) identity of the manufacturer or Section 1: General registrant information Legal entity & Section 1.1
importer
(ii) identity of the substance Section 2: Identification of the substance Sections 1.1, 1.2, 1.4
(iii) manufacture and use(s) of the Section 3: Information on manufacture and Section 3
substance and if relevant use and exposure use(s) of the substance(s)
categories
(iv) classification and labelling Section 4: Classification and labelling Section 2
(v) guidance on safe use Section 5: Guidance on safe use Section 11
(vi) study summaries of information Sections 4, 5, 6 and 7
derived from the application of Annexes VII
to XI
(vii) robust study summaries of the Sections 4, 5, 6 and 7
information derived from the application of
Annexes VII to XI if required under Annex I
(viii) indication regarding the review by an Dossier header 8
assessor of information submitted under (iii),
(iv), (vi), (vii) and (b)
(ix) proposals for testing Sections 4, 5, 6, 7 and dossier
header
(x) exposure information for substances in Section 6: Information on exposure for Section 3.5
quantities of 1 to 10 tonnes substances registered in quantities
between 1 and 10 tonnes per year per
manufacturer or importer
(xi) request as to which information in All relevant sub sections
Article 119(2) should not be made available
on the Internet
(b) Chemical safety report Attachment in section 13

8.2.2.3 General information on the registrant and on the registered substance

General information consists mainly of:


• Registrant(s) identification information
• Substance identification information
Information regarding registrant identification as specified in Article 10(a)(i) and Annex VI (section
1) must be reported in the technical dossier under the legal identity section of the IUCLID 5 file.
Guidance on how to document legal entity in IUCLID is available in section D9. of the Guidance on
iuclid.
As far as possible all fields and all information specified in section 1 of Annex VI have to be
documented in IUCLID 5 for the technical dossier to be complete. It includes: registrant’s name,
address, telephone number, fax number and e-mail address, the details about the contact person and

8The dossier header consists of information which is going to be used for administrative purposes and it is completed
by the applicant when preparing his dossier from the substance data sets.

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when appropriate the information about location of registrant’s production and own use site(s). If
the registrant has appointed a third party representative, the identity and the contact details of this
representative should also be included under this section of the technical dossier.
In case of a joint submission the lead registrant has to identify himself but also all the other
registrants who are part of the joint submission (see also section 1.8.4). The same applies to the
other registrants who have to identify themselves in their technical dossier but also the lead
registrant who submits the technical information on their behalf.
The registrant also needs to submit under this section of IUCLID 5 all the information required in
the technical dossier dealing with the identification of the substance as referred to in Article
10(a)(ii) and section 2 of Annex VI.
A substance is identified by its chemical identity, molecular and structural formula, chemical
composition and content of each constituent in the substance. Required information listed in section
2 of Annex VI shall be documented as far as possible including the information on the substance, its
composition, degree of purity, nature of impurities and information on the analytical methods.
In section 1.3 of IUCLID the inquiry or pre-registration number should be filled in the regulatory
programme identifiers.
The identification step is an essential part for REACH registration and the registrant should consult
the Guidance on substance identification in order to clearly identify and name their substance
appropriately. The step of gathering information on the identity of the substance should be done
early in the registration process at the level of the pre-registration or inquiry steps. Therefore the
registrant should have all the information required in the technical dossier and should be able to fill
all the required fields in IUCLID 5. Guidance is given in section 8 of the Guidance on substance
identification.

8.2.2.4 Classification and labelling

The registrant has to determine the classification and labelling of his substance with respect to
physico-chemical properties, environment and human health.
The final Classification and Labelling decision should be documented within section 2 of IUCLID 5
as well as the rationale for non classification when this is the case. The rationale for the decision for
a classification can be clearly documented in each of the relevant endpoint summary sections. For
example the classification for the environment should be justified under the endpoint summary for
ecotoxicological information, the classification for physico-chemical properties and human health
should be justified under the relevant endpoint summary (e.g. under acute toxicity, flammability,
etc.). For more guidance on where information on classification and labelling should be provided
section E.2 of the Guidance on IUCLID should be consulted.
All references to classification and labelling terminology, criteria and Directives are going to be
amended as soon as the new EU regulation, implementing the Globally Harmonised System (GHS)
for classification and labelling, is entering into force. This is foreseen to happen in 2008.
To ensure that hazard classifications and labelling of dangerous substances are available to all
stakeholders and the general public, the Agency will record the classification and labelling proposed
in the registration dossier within the classification and labelling inventory established and
maintained by the Agency. The Classification and Labelling inventory will contain the
classification of all substances subject to registration as well as of all substances within the scope of

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Directive 67/548/EEC which meet the criteria for classification of that Directive and which are
placed on the market (Article 112).
It is recommended that registrants, before classifying their substance consult Annex I of Directive
67/548/EEC (where all harmonised classification and labelling of dangerous substances have been
listed) as well as the classification and labelling inventory in order to check if their substance is
already listed. If already listed in Annex I of Directive 67/548/EEC (and therefore harmonised at
Community level) they should follow this harmonised classification. If already listed in the
inventory but not in Annex I of Directive 67/548/eec, they should make every effort to harmonise
their classification with other registrants, potential registrants having pre-registered and other
notifiers of the classification and labelling of the same substance.

8.2.2.5 Manufacture, use and exposure

Information on the manufacture and use(s) of the substance as mentioned under Article 10 (a)(iii)
and specified under section 3 of Annex VI shall be documented in section 3 of IUCLID 5.
The registrant has the possibility to record substantial amounts of information in IUCLID 5 file
regarding manufacture, use and exposure (e.g. technological processes, estimated quantities,
exposure and uses categories, wastes). It is up to the registrant to decide on the level of detail to
report, however all fields required under section 3 of Annex VI have to be filled.

How to report the tonnage in IUCLID 5?


Reporting appropriately the tonnage in IUCLID 5 is very important as this will, among other things,
be used for checking the completeness of the dossier and the fee calculation.
In section “3.2 Estimated quantities” of IUCLID 5 the following fields will have to be completed:
- Year: calendar year for which the tonnage is reported (see 1.6.2.3). In order to capture the
wish of a registrant to register its substance for a higher tonnage band than what he is
actually supposed to register (e.g. to anticipate an increase of tonnage or for the case of non-
phase in substances) it is requested to report the tonnage of the dossier (which can be higher
than the expected manufactured or imported tonnage) for the year of submission of the
dossier.
Example for a phase-in substance:
The volume manufactured by Company V is :
900 tonnes in 2010, 900 tonnes in 2011, 950 tonnes in 2012. The "3 year-average" tonnage
in 2013 is 933 tonnes/year. The registration is due before 31 May 2013 (at the latest).
The registrant can register in the 100-1000 tonnes per year tonnage band.

If he knows that his tonnage is going to exceed the 1000 tonnes threshold in a near future, he
could choose to already register his substance in the ≥ 1000 tones per year tonnage band to
avoid a need to update his dossier. In this case he should report in IUCLID a tonnage higher
or equal to 1000 tonnes per year for 2013 which is the year of his registration.

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Example for a non phase-in substance:


If a legal entity wants to register a substance in October 2008 with an expected manufacture
or import for 2008 of 5 tonnes as there are only a few months remaining. Nevertheless the
registrant expects that the manufacture or import for 2009 is 30 tonnes.
In order to avoid the need for an update of his registration dossier in 2009, the registrant can
already register in the 10-100 tonnes per year tonnage band. In the actual implementation it is
important that the registrant then fills in section 3.2 of IUCLID a tonnage within the 10-100
tonnes per year for 2008 so that this anticipation of future manufacture/import is taken into
account.

- Tonnage: total tonnage manufactured or imported in the form of substance on its own or in
preparations, including “intermediate” uses reported (see below). It should NOT include the
tonnage of the substance imported in articles. The information requirements will be based on
the “Tonnage- Intermediates(on-site) – Intermediates (transported)”
- Own use: tonnage which is used by the registrant. This should include both uses as an
intermediate and as a non- intermediate.
- intermediate (on-site): tonnage of the substance manufactured for use as on-site intermediate
under strictly controlled conditions (see the Guidance for intermediates)
- intermediates (transported): tonnage of the substance manufactured or imported and used as
intermediate under strictly controlled conditions.
Warning:
- if part of the tonnage is used for the purpose of PPORD, if it is covered by a PPORD
notification it should not be included here. If it is not covered by a PPORD notification it
should be included here and included in the tonnage used for the determination of the
information requirement.
For the tonnage of the substance imported in articles, the information should be reported in “3.4
Form in the supply chain”. The tonnage to be reported here should only take into account the
tonnage of the substance in articles where the substance is intended to be released (for more
guidance, see Guidance for articles). If the substance is intended to be released and is not already
registered for that use, then it should be registered. If the substance is also manufactured or
imported on its own or in a preparation by the registrant, the registrant should cover the use(s) of
the substance in article(s) in his registration dossier. If the registrant only imports the substance in
article where it is intended to be released, and has not been able to find a registration by other
registrants covering his use(s), the information requirement will be based on the tonnage of the
substance imported in articles where it is intended to be released (reported in section 3.4 of IUCLID
5).

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Other manufacture and use information


The exposure scenario(s) will be attached to the IUCLID 5 file as an integral part of the CSR, if the
CSR is required. However, the exposure scenario(s) could also be attached to the IUCLID 5 file
under section 3 dealing with manufacture, use and exposure..
In addition for substances manufactured or imported between 1 and 10 tonnes for which no
chemical safety report is required, registrants need to provide the information described in section 6
of Annex VI such as main use category, specification for industrial and professional use, significant
routes of human and environmental exposure as well as the pattern of exposure. This information
needs to be documented in section 3.5 of IUCLID (Identified uses and exposure scenarios).

8.2.2.6 Information requirements on inherent properties (Annexes VII to X)

All relevant available information on physicochemical, environmental fate and pathways,


ecotoxicological and toxicological properties as specified under Annexes VII to XI have to be
provided in IUCLID 5 in the endpoint study record of their respective fields in the form of study
summaries and robust study summaries (Article 10(a)(vi) and (vii)).
Figure 5 summarises the different steps to follow when filling endpoint study records and endpoint
summaries in IUCLID 5 with the relevant information on the inherent properties of the substance.

Based on the assessment of each available piece of information on


the endpoint, document in endpoint study records:
Each piece of information on the endpoint (being an experimental result
or any other type of result as QSAR, read across),
- specify whether it is a key study or a supporting study,
- decide whether to report a study summary or robust study summary
Waiving statements
Testing proposals (select “experimental study planned” in the “study type
result” in IUCLID )

Document the endpoint summary with:


a summary and justification of the assessment for the endpoint
classification and labelling justification, when relevant
PNECs/DNELs

Figure 5 Documentation of endpoint study records and the endpoint summaries

More guidance on the required level of detail and on when it is recommended to provide a complete
robust study summary or just a study summary is described below.

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8.2.2.6.1 Guidance on when to provide a robust study summary or a study summary when
filling the technical dossier with information on each specific endpoint
A robust study summary should reflect the objectives, methods, results and conclusions of a full
study report. The information included must be provided in sufficient detail to allow a technically
qualified person to make an independent assessment of its reliability and completeness –
minimising the need to go back to the full study report. Furthermore, it should contain sufficient
information to determine whether the right key study(ies) has been chosen for an endpoint.
It is required to provide robust study summaries only for information derived from the application
of Annexes VII to XI if required under Annex I in the technical dossier (Article 10 (a)(vii)). Robust
study summaries need to be provided in the technical dossier only when a chemical safety report is
required, therefore only for substances above 10 tonnes per year, and only for key studies (Article
10 (a)(vii)). However, it is recommended to provide robust study summaries in the technical dossier
for all key studies including for substances manufactured and produced at less than 10 tonnes per
year as this would facilitate the evaluation work made by the Agency and eventually Member States
in the frame of substances evaluation and may eventually avoid them to request further information.
In addition there might be cases where it could be useful to provide robust study summaries for non
key studies. For example, in case the key study is not the one giving rise to the highest concern it
might be useful to prepare a robust study summary for this study as well as for all the studies
demonstrating a higher concern, or at least to report sufficient information to justify the disregard of
these results so that the choice of the key study is better justified.
For all other available studies, used as supporting information in the assessment of the substance,
only a study summary needs to be provided in the technical dossier as for these studies less details
are necessary. It is nevertheless very important that the reasons why the study has not been selected
as a key study are reported, especially in case of higher concern.
Substances may have more than one study available for an endpoint and among these studies more
than one might be adequate. The registrant might therefore encounter one or more of the situations
described in the following Figure 6.

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Pre-evaluate available study reports

no
Adequate study(ies) available ? Less reliable studies

yes

One adequate study available ? More than one adequate study available?

Robust study One key


summary with study yes yes yes
full description
of methods

One clear key study and Different adequate Conflicting information


supporting information from information in the studies between the studies
other studies available (e.g. other
species, routes of exposure
tested)

WoE WoE WoE

Robust study summary for the key Robust study summary with full description of methods for all studies used
study and only study summary with as part of the Weight of Evidence (WoE)
minimum level of details for
supporting information

Figure 6 Decision tree on when to document a study with a robust study summary or a study summary

It is reasonable to expect that there will be cases where several inadequate or less adequate data on
a given REACH endpoint may exist.
It has to be underlined that when using a weight of evidence approach there might be cases where
several less adequate/reliable studies on a given endpoint may exist (tests not performed in
accordance with the test methods referred to in Article 13(3) for example). If a rationale can be
presented to show that such tests adequately describe the endpoint of concern, a further test for that
particular endpoint may not be necessary. For example there may be several repeated dose studies
available on a chemical, none of which would be acceptable by itself due to some deficiency (e.g.
small group sizes, insufficient number of dose groups, insufficient parameters, etc). Collectively,
however, the different studies show effects in the same target organ at approximately the same dose
and time.
• Only one adequate (reliable and relevant) study is available on the endpoint assessed.
When only one adequate study is available this is the key study and a robust study summary
should be provided. The studies considered as less adequate (e.g. studies for which the
reliability is considered as lower than the reliability of the key study but which is nevertheless a
valid study) should nevertheless be documented as supporting information or as part of the
available information but for these the registrant only needs to provide less detailed study
summaries.
• More than one adequate study is available on the endpoint assessed.
When several adequate studies are available there might be more than one key study. The

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studies available can be used as part of a weight of evidence approach (see also the Guidance on
information requirements - chapter 5 for general information and chapter 7 for information on
specific endpoints). The use of a weight of evidence approach is common practice when more
than one study is available on an endpoint. This might be particularly useful in the following
cases:
¾ There is more than one adequate study but with conflicting information available as well as
other less adequate studies.
In that case it is highly recommended to prepare robust study summaries for all studies used
as part of the weight of evidence approach even for those less adequate studies.
¾ There is more than one adequate study in which different species were tested or different
exposure routes were used.
In this case more than one study can be considered as key study to be used in the
assessment. In this case it is very useful to prepare a robust study summary for each of these
studies to facilitate the understanding of the choices made in the evaluation.
¾ Only studies considered as less adequate/reliable are available
In case where the available information is individually considered as not completely
adequate, the registrant might nevertheless consider that by using a weight of evidence
approach the information is sufficient for the intended purpose. In that particular situation a
robust study summary should be prepared for each study used as part of the weight of
evidence approach.

8.2.2.6.2 Further recommendation on when to provide robust study summaries for non key
studies
As stated in section 8.2.2.1 the level of detail needed to be reported in IUCLID depends on each
situation. In the two situations described below it is recommended to report information on the
study with a significant amount of detail.
• When the study is performed according to non-standard protocols
For studies not performed according to standard protocols it is recommended to provide a robust
study summary to allow the evaluation of the specific conditions used during testing. The
summary should in particular give enough information and highlight points that justify the
choice of this protocol rather than a standard protocol as well as sufficient information regarding
the adaptations made due to the intrinsic properties of the substance. This is particularly relevant
for substances requiring special considerations during testing (see Guidance on information
requirements, section 5.2.2) that often need specific adaptation of testing protocols.
• When the study gives ambiguous results
Sometimes tests performed according to accepted guidelines might give ambiguous results for
which more explanations might be needed (e.g. tests without clear dose-response relationship). In
such cases it is recommended to give the necessary information particularly if this study is to be
used in the hazard assessment of the substance.

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For each endpoint the registrant has to fill the endpoint study record. Moreover it is strongly
recommended that when available the registrant should also fill the endpoint summary in IUCLID 5
as detailed below.

8.2.2.6.3 How to document the endpoint study record


When filling IUCLID 5, in order to fulfil his requirements, the registrant could be in the following
situations:
• Information is available in the form of the results of a study report. The type of information can
be in vivo tests results but also results from any alternative methods (QSARs, in vitro methods,
read across).
• There is no information on the endpoint available, but information is available to justify the
possibility for waiving (e.g. information cannot be provided because it cannot be technically
obtained or information does not need to be provided because lack of exposure can be
demonstrated).
• Information is not available and is necessary, and as this information is listed under Annexes IX
and X a testing proposal has to be submitted.
How to document the endpoint study record with available information (study reports and
alternatives methods)
IUCLID 5 allows the user to highlight if only a study summary is provided on an endpoint or a full
robust study summary. However it is up to the registrant to decide which field to fill and the level of
detail of information to give. In case of a robust study summary the detail level 'all fields' should be
used. It is recommended to provide at least the type and amount of information in the respective
fields that is relevant for the assessment of the reliability and completeness of the study report (e.g.
depending on the type of test performed, physico-chemical properties of the substance).
Furthermore it should be specified in IUCLID 5 for each study if it is used as a key study, as a
supporting study or as part of a weight of evidence approach 9 . This is a way to document the
evaluation that has been made by the registrant and might be useful for IT tools developed for the
preparation of the CSR (e.g. in order to report the main results in the CSR) and may also facilitate
the evaluation by the Agency.
In case of use of alternative methods the registrant has also to fill the endpoint study record with
sufficient information to allow proper evaluation. Particularly in case of use of QSARs it is
recommended to fill as much information as possible in the IUCLID 5 structured fields but also to
attach in the endpoint study record the completed report format to be found in the Guidance on
information requirements (section 6.1) for QSARs.
The rationale for using read across from another substance needs to be well documented and
justified in the endpoint study record.
How to document the endpoint study record with waiving statements
If the registrant waives the data this should be also recorded in the endpoint study record. A clear
justification for waiving shall be given.

9 In IUCLID the user can select in the “Purpose flag” filed in the section on “Administrative data”, whether it is a key
study, a supportive study or a weight of evidence approach. If it is neither of those, nothing should be selected for this
field.

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How to document a testing proposal


The registrant shall document the testing proposal in the endpoint study record. Since no test results
are available the registrant has just to fill the "study result type" field explaining that an
"experimental study is planned". When submitting a testing proposal, the registrant need to submit
sufficient information to the Agency so that the Agency can take a decision as whether to accept the
testing proposal as such or not. Most of the information that needs to be submitted concerns the
testing protocol, i.e. the materials and methods part of the study record. In order to avoid subsequent
work it is possible for the registrant to already submit all this information in the structured fields of
IUCLID so that part of the endpoint study record is already filled when the registrant will update his
dossier with the result of the test.

8.2.2.6.4 How to document the endpoint summary


The registrant needs also to fill the endpoint summary in order to summarise what the conclusions
are of the overall assessment of an endpoint (e.g. aquatic toxicity, repeated dose toxicity) or of a
more general section such as ecotoxicological information or toxicological information.
In order to be able to fill the endpoint summaries the registrant has to assess the information
reported in the different endpoint study records. Depending on the situation, the registrant may be in
possession of only one study on an endpoint or may have several studies.
If only one study is reported on an endpoint:
The registrant has to use the information available in the robust study summary for that study and to
conclude on the endpoint in the endpoint summary. If the endpoint study record has been
documented sufficiently the registrant would only need to use information already summarised in
the endpoint study record.
If more than one study is available on an endpoint:
The registrant has to use all available relevant information reported in the different endpoint study
records in order to conclude on the endpoint. Usually the first information to be used should be the
robust study summary(ies) of the key study(ies) documented in the endpoint study record(s). The
other information should be used only as supporting evidence. However there might be cases where
there will be more than one key study on a specific endpoint or no key study as developed before. In
these situations the assessment should be done by using all available information in a weight of
evidence approach. In such situations the endpoint summary should be well documented and all
studies discussed to justify the final conclusion.
The three following types of information can be reported in the endpoint summary:
• A summary of the data available on a specific endpoint as well as a conclusion regarding the
assessment of a specific endpoint of the substance (e.g reprotoxicity, acute toxicity to fish,
biodegradation)
• The classification and labelling of the substance (for human health, environment and physico-
chemical properties) as well as the justification for this classification
• PNECs and DNELs values as well as the justification of the reported values.
Guidance on how to technically fill the endpoint summaries is given in section E of the Guidance
on IUCLID, under “endpoint summary record” guidance specific for each endpoint. It should be

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noted that information included in the endpoint summaries in IUCLID 5 can be automated extracted
to generate specific sections of the chemical safety report.

8.2.2.7 Guidance on safe use

The registrant has to report information required under section 5 of Annex VI in section 11 of
IUCLID 5 file and this information must be consistent with the information in the Safety Data Sheet
(SDS), where an SDS is required. More information on the level of information needed in the SDS
and therefore in this section is available under Annex II (Guide to the compilation of Safety Data
Sheets). Furthermore it is recommended to follow in-house current practices or guidance to make
SDS when filling this section of the technical dossier.
In case the CSR contains exposure scenarios the latter need to be annexed to the SDS. The
information on safe use in the ES, in the technical dossier and in the SDS has to be consistent. The
same applies to the summary of the physico-chemical properties hazard assessment, the summary of
the environmental hazard assessment, environmental fate as well as the calculated PNECs, the
summary of the human health hazard assessment as well as the calculated DNELs, and, if the
substance is considered PBT/vPvB to the report on PBT/vPvB properties as required under Article
31 in the SDS (see section 1.2.3.2).

8.2.2.8 Others

Review by an assessor
Further information shall also be provided in the technical dossier as referred to in Article 10. This
relates particularly to the need to highlight in the technical dossier if the information submitted
under (iii), (iv), (vi), (vii) or subparagraph (b) has been reviewed by an assessor chosen by the
manufacturer or importer and having appropriate experience as referred to in Article 10 (viii). This
must be recorded in the dossier header in IUCLID 5.

Confidential information

The registrant has the possibility in IUCLID 5 to flag as confidential all sections or endpoint study
records or any other information mentioned in Article 119 (2)(containing the list of information that
would normally be made publicly available by the Agency over the Internet). This should be done
by filling the “Confidentiality and regulatory purpose flags” in the “Administrative data" section of
all study records. The user has three options if he wants to keep the data confidential:
1. CBI (confidential business information): the data must not be provided to other companies
or disseminated to the public.
2. IP (intellectual property): the data should only be provided to other companies when they
are trusted (e.g. consortia or with letter of access); the data must not be disseminated to the
public.
3. no PA (not public available): the data can be provided to other companies, but must not be
disseminated to the public.
However, a clear justification must be provided to allow the Agency to accept this information as
confidential and this should be described in the available “justification” field in the “Confidentiality
and regulatory purpose flags”. It should be clear however that this applies only to information listed

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under Article 119(2) and that all information mentioned in Article 119 (1) shall be made publicly
available in any case. For information not mentioned in Article 119, Article 118 as well as the rules
on access to documents (Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001) apply.
Registrants are entitled to claim confidentiality for information not to be disclosed on the Agency’s
website pursuant to Article 119 (2) against fee payment (Article 74 (3)). As this claiming of
confidentiality is part of compiling a registration dossier, IUCLID 5 is build in such a way that
industry can flag all 7 items (a – g) listed in Article 119 (2) (see also section 1.8.2).

8.2.3 Chemical safety report

For substances manufactured or imported at 10 tonnes or more per year, the registrant needs to
submit as part of his registration dossier a Chemical Safety Report (CSR), as described in section
1.8.1. The Chemical Safety Report is a stand alone document which will be attached in section 13
of IUCLID “Assessment reports” to the registration dossier and will contain partly information that
should already have been reported in the technical dossier. The structure of IUCLID 5 gives the
possibility to extract information already included in the technical dossier, e.g. within the endpoint
summaries, to build automatically some parts of the chemical safety report. A format for the
reporting of the CSR is available in Annex I.
The CSR is the document reporting the Chemical Safety Assessment (CSA). Therefore, to prepare
this CSR the registrant has to perform a CSA and for this:
• Perform and document hazard assessments in the relevant reporting format
• the human health hazard assessment
• the physicochemical hazard assessment
• the environmental hazard assessment
• the PBT/vPvB assessment
If the substance is classified as dangerous in accordance with Directive 67/548/EEC or assessed to
be a PBT/vPvB in accordance with the criteria in Annex XIII then the registrant has to:
• Perform and document the exposure assessment including exposure scenarios
• Perform and document the risk characterisation
A specific guidance on how to do a chemical safety assessment is available in the Guidance on the
Chemical Safety Report and should be consulted by registrants. Several tools are available or will
be developed to perform the chemical safety assessment and generate the chemical safety report.
Some of these tools are listed in the Guidance on the Chemical Safety Report.
The different steps of this CSA are repeated here although the assessment should have been done
earlier in the process, while preparing the technical dossier.

8.2.3.1 Hazard assessments

The assessment starts with the assessment of physicochemical, human health and environmental
hazard. In addition, the registrant has also to assess if the substance is persistent, bioaccumulative
and toxic (PBT) or very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB).

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As mentioned previously the hazard assessments should be performed on the basis of all available
and relevant information which should be reported in the technical dossier. The registrant should
rely particularly on the key studies identified in the technical dossier for the relevant endpoints. In
addition to these key studies, information available in other studies could also be used by the
registrant as supporting information or as part of a weight of evidence approach as described before
in the guidance.

8.2.3.1.1 Human health hazard assessment


The objective of the human health hazard assessment for the registrant is to classify and label their
substance and to determine a derived no-effect level(s) (DNEL) for workers and the general
population. The DNEL is regarded as an exposure level (internal or external) below which an
adverse effect will not occur. The DNEL is derived from toxicity test results using appropriate
assessment factors. These toxicity results should be reported in the technical dossier in the different
endpoint study records and the result of the assessment should be reported in the endpoint summary
once the assessment is finalised as well as the DNELs values calculated. The guidance on how to
derive a DNEL is available in the Guidance on the Chemical Safety Report.
The classification and labelling of the substance should be performed on the basis of information
available in the endpoint study records as detailed in section 8.2.2.4.
In conclusion, the main task of the registrant is to first document the human health assessment of
the relevant endpoints in the endpoint summaries in IUCLID 5 and then to use this information as a
basis for section 5 of the CSR.

8.2.3.1.2 Physicochemical hazard assessment


The objective of the physicochemical hazard assessment is for the registrant to determine the
classification and labelling of their substance and to assess, as a minimum, the potential effects to
human health for explosivity, flammability and oxidising potential. Guidance on how to assess
physico-chemical properties can be consulted in the Guidance on the Chemical Safety Report.
The classification and labelling of the substance should be performed on the basis of information
available in the endpoint study records as detailed in section 8.2.2.4.
A summary of the different effect and at least the explosivity, flammability and oxidising potential
shall be reported in section 6 of the CSR on the basis of the information available in the technical
dossier under the relevant IUCLID 5 endpoint study records.

8.2.3.1.3 Environmental hazard assessment


The objective of the environmental hazard assessment for the registrant is to classify and label their
substance and to determine a predicted no effect concentration (PNEC) below which adverse
environmental effects in the environmental compartments are not expected to occur. The guidance
on how to derive a PNEC is available in the Guidance on the Chemical Safety Report.
The classification and labelling of the substance should be performed on the basis of information
available in the endpoint study records as detailed in section 8.2.2.4.

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A summary of the different effects on the environmental targeted compartments (aquatic, terrestrial,
atmospheric and micro-organisms of the sewage treatments systems) shall be reported in section 7
of the CSR on the basis of the information available in the technical dossier under the relevant
IUCLID 5 endpoint study record. The result of the assessment, once finalised, should also be
reported under the relevant endpoint summaries in IUCLID 5 as well as the calculated PNECs
values.
In addition to information on potential effects on the environment, the registrant has also to
document the environmental fate (e.g. degradation, bioaccumulation) of the substance under section
4 of the CSR as this information is used, for example, when determining the classification and
labelling of the substance or for exposure assessment.

8.2.3.1.4 Persistent bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT)/ very persistent and very
bioaccumulative (vPvB) assessment
The objective of the PBT/vPvB assessment is to determine if the substance fulfils the criteria given
in Annex XIII and if so, to characterise the potential emissions of the substance. Guidance on how to
perform a PBT/vPvB assessment is available within the Guidance on the Chemical Safety Report.
Relevant information regarding the Persistent, Bioaccumulative and Toxic (PBT) properties of the
substance should be already available in the CSR under respectively sections 4 for Persistence and
Bioaccumulation and 5 and 7 for Toxicity. The registrant should then be consistent with what is
written under these sections when performing the PBT/vPvB assessment. In addition further
information, like monitoring data might also be useful (as described in the Guidance on the
Chemical Safety Report).
The conclusion of the PBT, vPvB assessment should be reported in section 8 of the CSR. If at the
end of the assessment the substance is assessed to be PBT/vPvB, an emission characterisation shall
be performed and reported as well under section 8 of the CSR.

8.2.3.2 Exposure assessment

When the result of the hazard assessments indicates that the substance meets any criteria for
classification as dangerous (in accordance with Directive 67/548/EEC) or is assessed to be a PBT or
vPvB (in accordance with criteria in Annex XIII) the registrant shall perform an exposure
assessment.
The exposure assessment consists of determining quantitatively or qualitatively the
dose/concentrations of the substance to which humans and the environmental are or may be
exposed. The exposure assessment includes two steps:
1) Generation of exposure scenario(s)
2) Exposure estimation
An exposure scenario is a set of conditions that describe how a substance (as such, in a preparation
or in an article) is manufactured or used during its life-cycle and how the manufacturer or importer
or downstream user controls or recommends controlling exposure of humans and the environment.
It must include the appropriate risk management measures and operational conditions that, when
properly implemented, ensure that the risks from the uses of the substance are adequately
controlled.

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These exposure scenarios are the output of the iterative CSA. For more guidance how to develop
exposure scenarios and perform exposure estimation please consult the Guidance on the Chemical
Safety Report.
The exposure assessment has to be reported in section 9 of the CSR.

8.2.3.3 Risk characterisation

The risk characterisation is the final step in the chemical safety assessment where it should be
determined whether risks arising from manufacture/import and uses of the substance are adequately
controlled. The registrant shall compare no effect levels (DNELs) and predicted no effect
concentrations (PNECs) with calculated exposure concentrations to human and the environment
respectively. The risk characterisation consists also of the assessment of the likelihood and severity
of an event occurring due to physico-chemical properties of the substance and a qualitative or
quantitative estimation/description on the uncertainties related to the risk assessment. Guidance on
how to characterise risk is available in the Guidance on the Chemical Safety Report.
This step shall be carried out for each exposure scenarios for both the human health and the
environment and the results and discussion reported in section 10 of the CSR. As the purpose is to
prove that the risks are adequately controlled it is expected that the results of the risk
characterisation should not indicate a risk in the CSR.

8.2.4 Preparation of a registration dossier in case of joint registration

In case the registration dossier is created as being part of a joint submission the content of the
dossier of the lead registrant will differ from that of the other registrant(s). The dossier should
nevertheless be prepared in the same way following the guidance given in section 8.2. The Use
Case 4 described in section D.1. of the Guidance on IUCLID concerns the compilation of substance
dataset intended to be used for a joint submission dossier. Section E.1.5. of that guidance relates to
Joint submission and section D.8.2.6 to the creation of a joint submission dossier.

8.2.4.1 Preparation of the dossier of the lead registrant

As explained in section 1.8.4.1 the lead registrant should include in his registration dossier all the
information that should be shared with all other registrants as well as of the information that he
needs to submit personally. This means that his registration dossier should contain
1. all study records which are relevant to any of the registration dossiers of the other
registrants and which have been agreed on, as well as
2. the study records which should be included in the lead registrant’s dossier and which are not
already included in point 1.
To prepare his dossier the lead registrant should select the regular template in IUCLID (based on
the tonnage band, see Table 2.)

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8.2.4.2 Preparation of the dossier of other registrants

All other registrants’ part of the joint registration should include in their registration dossier the
information
• that they have to submit separately or that they choose to submit separately (this pertains to
information on the identity of each legal entity, the substance identity, information on the
manufacture and on the use(s) of the substance including tonnage as well as some exposure
information for substances registered in quantities of 1 to 10 tonnes, see section 8.1 of the
Guidance on data sharing for the details)
• for which they have opted out from the joint registration. More guidance on opting-out is
available in section 8.4 of the Guidance on data sharing.
To prepare their registration dossier, the members of a joint submission have to select the specific
template in IUCLID for members of a joint submission (see Table 2.). By doing so all the endpoint
study records included in the substance data set will, by default, not be included in the dossier. In
case of opt out, the registrant will have to specifically indicate which study records he wants to
include in his dossier. Inclusion of a study record in the registration dossier of a member of a joint
submission is automatically interpreted as an opt-out from the joint registration. The registrant
should also indicate in his dossier header that he has opted out.

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9 WHEN AND HOW TO UPDATE A REGISTRATION DOSSIER

9.1.1 Duty to keep information up-to-date

The information submitted in the registration dossier to the Agency will have to be kept up-to-date.
It is the responsibility of the registrant to update their registration dossier when needed. There are
basically two types of situations where a registrant needs to update his registration and re-submit it
to the Agency:
− update on the registrant's own initiative
The registrants are required to inform, without undue delay, the Agency about new relevant
available information (e.g. new tonnage band) on the registered substance or on his registration
dossier (Article 22(1)) and therefore to submit an updated version of the registration dossier.
Any change in already submitted information such as the registrant’s identity should also be
submitted in an update of the registration dossier.
− update as a consequence of a decision made by the Agency or the Commission
The registrant has to update his registration as a consequence of the Agency or Commission
decision under the evaluation procedure but also, when relevant, following any decision made
in accordance with Article 60 (Granting of authorisation) and Article 73 (Commission decision
on Restrictions). These updates have to be performed within the deadline specified by the
Agency/Commission in the decision.
Moreover, according to Article 20(6) whenever additional information for a particular substance is
submitted to the Agency by a new registrant, the Agency is responsible to notify the existing
registrants that this information is available on the database. As a consequence the registrant has to
take this information into account and if relevant update his registration dossier.
For substances regarded as registered because a notification according to Directive 67/548/EEC has
been submitted, updating of registration dossiers needs to be performed if the quantity reaches the
next tonnage threshold as defined in Article 12 (cf. Article 24).
There is no requirement to update a registration dossier (Article 16(2)) for substances in plant
protection and biocidal products (Article 15).
An update shall be accompanied by the relevant part of the fee required in accordance with the
Commission Regulation on fees and charges payable to the European Chemicals Agency, as
required by Title IX Fees and charges.

9.1.2 Brief overview of the updating process

New relevant information prepared either on the registrant's own initiative or in response to a
request by the authorities has to be communicated by updating the registration dossier and
submitting it to the Agency. Once such an update is submitted to the Agency it has to undergo a
completeness check within three weeks of the submission date. For more details on completeness
check process see section 7.2.
As soon as the updated registration dossier is available in the Agency data base, the Agency should
inform the relevant Member State Competent Authority about the update (Articles 22(1), 22(2)).

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Manufacture/import may continue if there is no indication to the contrary from the Agency within 3
weeks after the submission of the registration update (Article 21(1)).

9.1.3 Required update on the registrant's own initiative

A registrant is responsible on his own initiative for updating his registration dossier without undue
delay with relevant new information and resubmitting it to the Agency. The following cases are
identified in Article 22(1). Further interpretation and guidance is given below for each case when
appropriate.
a) Any change in his status, such as being a manufacturer or an importer or a producer of articles,
or in his identity, such as his name or address
This requires that any changes in the status of the registrant as well as any change related to the
registrant’s contact details, appointed contact person(s) and location of the registrant’s
production and own use site(s) should trigger update of the registration dossier.
b) Any change in the composition of the substance as given in section 2 of Annex VI
Section 2 of Annex VI addresses what information is useful to identify each substance. Section 2.3
specifies the information on the composition of the substance. If the composition of the substance
changes, e.g. due to a change of process, this should be reported to the Agency. It is important that
the registrant evaluates whether the change on the composition of its substance has some influence
on its properties (being, physico-chemical properties or fate or hazard properties).
Further guidance on when a change in for example the degree of purity would trigger an update is
available in Guidance on substance identification.
(Number the indents below 2.3.1-2.3.7)
• Degree of purity (%),
• Nature of impurities, including isomers and by-products,
• Percentage of (significant) main impurities,
• Nature and order of magnitude (…ppm, … %) of any additives (e.g. stabilising agents or
inhibitors), and other information why are changed.
• Spectral data (ultra-violet, infra-red, nuclear magnetic resonance or mass spectrum)
• High-pressure liquid chromatogram, gas chromatogram
• Description of the analytical methods or the appropriate bibliographical references for the
identification of the substance and, where appropriate, for the identification of impurities
and additives. This information shall be sufficient to allow the methods to be reproduced.
c) Changes in the annual or total quantities manufactured or imported by the registrant or in the
quantities of substances present in articles produced or imported by the registrant, if these
result in a change of tonnage band, including cessation of manufacture or import
As soon as the volume of a registered substance is reaching a higher tonnage band, the
information requirements of the registration dossier change, i.e. at 10, at 100 and at 1000 tonnes
per year the registrant has to inform the Agency of the change(s) in the quantities (Article 22 (1)

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(c) as well as the additional information that he would require to comply with the information
requirements for the new tonnage level (Article 12(2)).
d) New identified uses and new uses advised against for which the substance is manufactured or
imported
If a downstream user informs the registrant about a new use of the substance, not identified in
the registration dossier, there might be two situations:
• If the registrant has registered in a tonnage band starting at 10 tonnes per year and
therefore is required to make a chemical safety report (CSR), he can assess the chemical
safety for this use, and include that use in his chemical safety report if the results of the
chemical safety assessment indicates that risks to human health and the environment from
that use are adequately controlled. He will then, when relevant, provide the downstream
user with a revised SDS, including the new use as well as the exposure scenarios
describing the operational conditions for which the substance can be used safely. If on the
basis of the chemical safety assessment he is unable to include that new identified use for
reasons of human health or environmental protection, he shall provide the Agency in
writing with the reason for this decision. The registrant can consider to update the SDS
indicating the use(s) advised against, if he deems this of importance.
• If the registrant has registered in a tonnage band less than 10 tonnes per year, he has no
obligation to perform a chemical safety assessment. However he may decide to include or
not the new use(s) in the SDS.
In both situations the registrant needs to update his registration to take into account the new
identified use.
It can also be the case that the registrant has to take into account a new own use or that he
himself decides to identify a new use that his downstream user(s) are or may be interested in.
Therefore, if the ‘new’ use is covered by an ES that is already included in the registrant's CSR
(and annexed to a SDS) the registrant does not need to update his registration even if the 'brief
general description of use' in accordance with section 3.5 of Annex VI does not exactly
correspond to that use.
e) New knowledge of the risks of the substance to human health and/or the environment of which
the registrant may reasonably be expected to have become aware which leads to changes in the
safety data sheet or the chemical safety report
If the registrant becomes aware of information that could lead to other or different risks for the
human health or the environment caused by the substance he manufacture or import, such as
monitoring data in the environment or epidemiological studies, he needs to take those data into
account and evaluate the appropriateness of the risk management measures put in place or
recommended down the supply chain.
New information triggering a revision of the chemical safety assessment or the safety data sheet
could also be international review such as IPCS review or OECD SIDS, or any kind of
publication dealing with the release and exposure or hazard of the substance.
Even if the initial registration has been completed accurately there will be an on-going need to
update CSA/CSR or SDS. There are various triggers for the need to update the CSA or SDS and
thus the Registration Dossier such as:

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• Ongoing obligation: regularly screen data bases for new substance information that would
change the results of the CSA.
• New or additional study reports become available that would change hazards or have
identified new hazards.
For example where a substance has been identified as a substance of a very high concern and
included in the candidate list for eventual inclusion in Annex XIV, the registrants of such
substance may need to consider to update their registration dossier to take this fact into account
if they did not previously do so.
f) Any change in the classification and labelling of the substance
Any registrant is required to submit to the Agency classifications for all substances subject to
registration.
In cases, where a harmonised classification and labelling has been adopted in accordance with
Article 115, the registration dossier needs to be updated accordingly.
Furthermore, any manufacturer, producer of articles or importer who places a substance on the
market must (independent of the quantity for classified substances) notify to the Agency
information on identity of the substance and information on the hazard classification of the
substance, including labelling and specific concentration limits. The Agency will collate all this
information on classification and labelling into a publicly available classification and labelling
inventory. This inventory will indicate the relevant registration number(s) and whether the
classifications submitted by different registrants or notifiers differ. In the latter case, the
registrants and notifiers are required to make every effort to come to an agreed classification,
and update their registrations/notifications as appropriate (Guidance on C&L notification will be
developed separately).
Moreover each registrant also has an obligation to update his registration dossier in light of any
other new data relevant to the classification.
g) Any update or amendment of the chemical safety report or section 5 of Annex VI (Guidance on
safe use concerning)
Apart from the reasons mentioned in the previous points there may be a need to update
CSA/CSR due to i.e.:
• Innovation in the supply chain.
• New products and applications.
• New equipment and processes (conditions of use) at the DU.
Moreover an update of the CSR may be triggered by an increase of the production and/or
import.
Above mentioned needs for updating CSA/CSR should be identified internally by the
manufacturer or importer, by the downstream user or Agency/MS. Although the need for
updating CSA/CSR may result from the information from down the supply chain, the M/I has
the choice whether to support any reported revisions to the CSR:
• If the changes are supported the CSR and any existing SDS (and/or other downstream
information) are revised and if necessary the registration dossier is updated.

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• If the manufacturer or importer decides not to support the revisions, the original source of
the information should be informed so they can take appropriate action and the reasons for
advising against that unsupported conditions of use should be specified in section 16 of the
SDS and the Agency must be informed in writing of those reasons. Moreover, the
registration must be updated by including the non supported use under the heading uses
advised against (Article 37(3)).
h) The registrant identifies the need to perform a test listed in Annex IX or Annex X, in which cases
a testing proposal shall be developed
In case when the higher level studies are not required by the legislation due to i.e. lower tonnage
band, in some cases such studies still might be necessary in the opinion of the registrant in order
to adequately control the risks arising from the manufacture and use(s) of the substance.
In case when the registrant identifies the need to perform the higher level study listed in
Annexes IX and X, he will have to submit to the Agency an update of registration dossier
including the testing proposal for this test.
i) Any change in the access granted to information in the registration
Encouraging registrants to share data in order to save resources and avoid unnecessary
repetition of the animal tests it is very important to keep up-to-date information about ownership
and permission to use of the relevant data.
This point is especially relevant in light of the joint submission of information. In joint
submission of information the lead registrant should submit the full set of data on behalf of the
whole group of registrants who are all registering the same substance while all the others should
in their own separate registrations submit only limited a set of information, while referring to
the lead registration for the rest of the information. To “protect” his submission on behalf of all
registrants, the lead registrant is obliged to update his lead registration whenever there is a
change in the composition of the group of registrants covered by the joint submission or
whenever there is any change in the right of access granted to the other registrants to
information in the lead registration.

9.1.4 Update as a consequence of Agency or Commission decisions

The registrant has to update his registration as a consequence of the Agency or Commission
decision under the Evaluation Title, or to take into account decisions made in accordance with
Article 60 (Granting of authorisation) and Article 73 (Commission decision on Restrictions). This
task has to be performed within the deadline specify by the Agency/Commission in the decision.
a) Evaluation procedures
There are two main types of evaluation procedures, a substance evaluation and a dossier evaluation.
The latter is further subdivided into an examination of any testing proposal and a compliance check
of the registration dossier. The decisions taken under the provision of this Title that can have an
impact on the updating obligations of registrants will be analysed below:
In the examination of testing proposals, all proposals for tests specified in Annexes IX and X
submitted as part of registrations have to be examined by the Agency within certain timelines. The
examination of testing proposal by the Agency could trigger the need for the registrant to update the
registration dossier when a decision requesting one or several tests to be carried out is taken by the
Agency or the Commission. For more details see the Guidance on evaluation.

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All tests carried out based on a decision of the Agency under Article 40 (Examination of testing
proposals) have to be submitted in a form the study summary, or the robust study summary if
required by Annex I in updated registration dossier. Moreover, depending on the outcome of the
new test conducted, the registrant may have to update the hazard profile of the substance and/or the
CSR including the ES.
In the compliance check, the Agency may examine any registration dossier in order to check
whether the registrant has met his obligations and the registration dossier complies with the
provisions of REACH, (for details on compliance check see the Guidance on evaluation).
As the outcome of the compliance check the Agency or the Commission can require the registrant
to submit, within a given time limit, any information needed to bring this registration into
compliance with the relevant information requirements. In response the registrant should update his
registration dossier, including the chemical safety report, with any additional information requested.
The substance evaluation aims to clarify a concern that a given substance constitutes a risk to
human health or the environment.
Substance evaluation provides a mechanism for authorities to require industry to obtain and submit
additional information in case of suspicion of a risk to human health or the environment. When the
competent authority considers that additional information is necessary for clarifying the suspicion,
the draft decision stating the reasons for this request will have to be prepared by it.
When a decision is taken by the Agency or the Commission, the registrant has to submit the
requested information by way of an update of his registration dossier to the Agency by the deadline
set. In the case of multiple registrants, they have to agree who is going to carry out testing on behalf
of all other registrants and to share the costs of testing equally.
b) Authorisation/Restrictions
If a substance is authorised through a Commission decision, the conditions for the authorisation
should be reflected in the registration dossier. As a consequence, the registration dossier will have
to be updated if it does not take into account these conditions already.
For a substance subjected to restriction, the registration dossier should reflect the relevant uses that
are exempted from restriction or the relevant conditions for use that are included in the restriction.

9.1.5 Update of registration dossier for substances regarded as being registered under
REACH

Substances notified in accordance with Directive 67/548/EEC


Under the REACH Regulation, the substances notified in accordance with Directive 67/548/EEC
are regarded as registered by the manufacturer or importer who submitted the notification.
Nevertheless the REACH registration dossier for those substances which are regarded as registered
should be updated as soon as the manufactured/imported quantity reaches the next tonnage
threshold under Article 12 (10, 100 or 1000 tons). This update should not only contain the
information required by REACH which corresponds to that higher tonnage threshold, but also any
information which corresponds to lower tonnage thresholds but which was not yet submitted.
However in order to avoid unnecessary testing on vertebrate animals the registrant first has to
inform the Agency of the additional information that he would require to comply with the
information requirements for the new tonnage level. Upon receipt of this information, the Agency

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should act as in an inquiry process (Article 26(3)) and should inform the registrant of the names and
addresses of the previous registrants and of any relevant study summaries already submitted by
them in order to share existing data and to ensure that studies on vertebrate animals are not
unnecessarily repeated, for more information on Inquiry see section 2.3and the Guidance on data
sharing.
Registrants of notified substances will also have to comply with all other REACH requirements and
provisions: for example, when submitting their update they will have to prepare a Chemical Safety
Report and to prepare Exposure Scenarios to attach to t heir Safety Data Sheet when relevant.
Apart from the update required when reaching the next tonnage threshold, the updates described
under sections 9.1.3and 9.1.4 above must also be submitted if and when relevant.

Substances in Biocidal products and in Plant Protection Products


For uses of substances regarded as registered under the Biocides Directive or Plant Protection
Products Directive (see Article 15) updating requirements in Article 22 do not apply (Article 16(2)).

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Corrigendum to the Guidance on Registration, February 2008 version

Substances under customs supervision


Chapter 1.6.3.2, 3rd bullet point, page 31

Original text, February 2008 version Amended text, April 2008 version
• the substances do not undergo any form of treatment or processing • the substances do not undergo any form of treatment or processing
(including formulation, consumption, filling into containers, during their stay in the EU. For that purpose a free zone or a free
transfer from one container to another, mixing or production of warehouse on the EU territory is regarded as being part of the EU
an article) during their stay in the EU. For that purpose a free zone
or a free warehouse on the EU territory is regarded as being part of
the EU

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Corrigendum to the Guidance on Registration, April 2008 version

Only representantive
Chapter 1.5.3.4, 2nd last paragraph, page 23/24

Original text, April 2008 version Amended text, May 2008 version
The only representative can represent one or several “non- The only representative can represent one or several “non-Community
Community manufacturers”. As he is fulfilling the registration manufacturers”. If it acts on behalf of several “non-Community
obligations of importers, the tonnage of the substance to be manufacturers” it must submit a separate registration for each of these
registered is the total of the tonnages of the same substance covered substance manufacturers. The tonnage of the substance to be registered in
by the contractual agreements with him and all “non-Community each registration is the total of the tonnages of the substance covered by the
manufacturers” represented by him. The information requirement contractual agreements with the only representative and the specific “non-
for the registration dossier shall be determined according to this Community manufacturer” represented by him. The information
total tonnage. requirement for the registration dossier shall be determined according to
this tonnage. By making separate submissions, the confidential business
information of the “non-Community manufacturer” can be preserved and
equal treatment with EU manufacturers can be ensured (EU
manufacturers must submit separate registration dossiers for each legal
entity).

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Original text, April 2008 version Amended text, May 2008 version

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Corrigendum to the Guidance on Registration, April 2008 version

Assigning a registration number


Chapter 7.4, table [BASE NUMBER], page 70

Original text, April 2008 version Amended text, May 2008 version
· <TYPE> is a 2-digit number giving the type · <TYPE> is a 2-digit number giving the type
of number: of number:
- 01 Registration - 01 Registration
- 02 C&L notification - 02 C&L notification
- 03 Substance in article - 03 Substance in article
- 04 PPORD - 04 PPORD
- 05 Pre-registration - 05 Pre-registration
- 06 Inquiry - 06 Inquiry
· <BASE- is a 7-digit number - 07 On-site isolated
NUMBER> intermediates
· is a 2-digit number - 08 Transported on-site
<CHECKSUM> isolated intermediates
- 09 Data holder
notification
· <BASE- is a 10-digit number
NUMBER>
· is a 2-digit number
<CHECKSUM>

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Corrigendum to the Guidance on Registration, May 2008 version

Only representantive
Chapter 1.5.3.4, What are the tasks of the only representative, page 23/24

Original text, May 2008 version Amended text, September 2008 version

What are the tasks of the only representative? What are the tasks of the only representative?
An only representative is fully liable for fulfilling all obligations of An only representative is fully liable for fulfilling all obligations of
importers for the substances he is responsible for as a registrant. These importers for the substances he is responsible for as a registrant. These
do not only pertain to registration but also all other relevant obligations do not only pertain to registration but also all other relevant obligations
such as pre-registration, communication in the supply chain, such as pre-registration, communication in the supply chain,
notification of substances of very high concern (SVHC), classification notification of substances of very high concern (SVHC), classification
and labelling and any obligations resulting from authorisations or and labelling and any obligations resulting from authorisations or
restrictions etc. (see Art. 8(2)). restrictions etc. (see Art. 8(2)).
The only representative registers the imported quantities depending on The only representative registers the imported quantities depending on
the contractual arrangements between the “non-Community the contractual arrangements between the “non-Community
manufacturer” and the only representative. manufacturer” and the only representative.
The registration dossier of the only representative should comprise all
REACH does not distinguish between direct and indirect imports
uses of the importers (now downstream users) covered by the
into the EU and therefore such terms are not used in this guidance.
registration. The only representative shall keep an up-to-date list of EU
It is essential that there is a clear identification of:
customers (importers) within the same supply chain of the “non-
Community manufacturer” and the tonnage covered for each of these • who in the supply chain of a substance is the
customers, as well as information on the supply of the latest update of manufacturer, formulator or producer of an article;
the safety data sheet. • who has appointed the only representative;
For phase-in substances the only representative will have to pre- • which imports the OR has responsibility for.
register the substance in order to benefit from the extended registration
deadlines and will subsequently become participant of the Substance As long as the above conditions are met, it does not matter what
Information Exchange Forum (SIEF) (see section 3.4 of the Guidance are the steps or supply chain outside the EU between the
manufacturer, formulator or producer of an article and the

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on data sharing). importer in the EU.


Although the only representative is legally responsible for the It should, however, be pointed out that the use of the only
registration, it can be anticipated that in most cases, it will be the “non- representative facility creates the need for exact documentation on
Community manufacturer” that will provide him with all necessary which imported quantities of the substance are covered by the only
data for his registration dossier. If a ”non-Community manufacturer” representative registration and which imported quantities are not.
decides to change his only representative, the successor will have to The only representative will need this information to fulfil his
submit a new registration dossier, as there is no link between the obligation under Article 8(2) to keep available and up-to-date
two only representatives who are separate legal entities. It is information on quantities imported and customers sold to.
nevertheless possible for the new only representative to agree with the Moreover, the importer will also need to know whether a concrete
former only representative and to reuse the data and dossier of the quantity of the substance in a preparation is covered by the
former only representative to prepare his registration dossier. registration of the only representative of the substance
manufacturer, as he would otherwise be subject to a registration
requirement himself. This documentation will need to be presented
to the enforcement authorities upon request.
The registration dossier of the only representative should comprise all
uses of the importers (now downstream users) covered by the
registration. The only representative shall keep an up-to-date list of EU
customers (importers) within the same supply chain of the “non-
Community manufacturer” and the tonnage covered for each of these
customers, as well as information on the supply of the latest update of
the safety data sheet.
For phase-in substances the only representative will have to pre-
register the substance in order to benefit from the extended registration
deadlines and will subsequently become participant of the Substance
Information Exchange Forum (SIEF) (see section 3.4 of the Guidance
on data sharing).
Although the only representative is legally responsible for the
registration, it can be anticipated that in most cases, it will be the “non-
Community manufacturer” that will provide him with all necessary
data for his registration dossier. If a ”non-Community manufacturer”
decides to change his only representative, the successor can submit an
update of the earlier registration dossier provided that the earlier

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only representative agrees to this change. This agreement needs to


be documented in the update. In order to prevent disputes, it is
recommended to include clauses on the eventuality of a later
change of the only representative in the contracts between the
“non-Community manufacturer” and the only representative.
In the absence of an agreement by the earlier only representative,
the successor will have to submit a new registration dossier. In this
latter instance, it is nevertheless possible that the former only
representative agrees to make available the data and dossier for
reuse for the new only representative to prepare his registration
dossier.

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APPENDIX 1 : ACRONYMS

C&L Classification and Labelling


CBI Confidential Business Information
CMR Carcinogenic, Mutagenic and Reprotoxic substance
CSA Chemical Safety Assessment
CSR Chemical Safety Report
CWG Commission Working Group
DNELs Derived No Effect Levels
DU Downstream User
ECHA European Chemicals Agency
EEA European Economic Area
EFTA European Free Trade Agreement
EINECS European Inventory of Existing Commercial Chemical Substances
ELINCS European List of Notified Chemical Substances
ES Exposure Scenario
EU European Union
GDMF General Decision Making Framework
GHS Globally Harmonised System for classification and labelling
GLP Good Laboratory Practice
IP Intellectual Property
IPCS International Programme on Chemical Safety
ITS Integrated Testing Strategies
IUCLID International Uniform Chemical Information Database
IUPAC International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry
NGO non-governmental organisation
NLP no-longer polymer
OC Operational Conditions
OECD HPV Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development High
Production Volume
OECD SIDS OECD Screening Information Data Set
OECD SIDS SIAR OECD SIDS Initial Assessment Report
PA publicly available
PBT Persistent, Bioaccumulative, Toxic substances
PNECs Predicted No Effect Concentrations
PPORD Product and Process Orientated Research and Development
QSARs Quantitative structure-activity relationships
REACH Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals
RIPs REACH Implementation Projects
RMM Risk Management Measures
SDS Safety Data Sheet
SIEF Substance Information Exchange Forum
SME Small and Medium Sized Enterprise
SVHC Substances of Very High Concern
UVCB substance substances of Unknown or Variable Composition, Complex reaction
products or Biological materials
vPvB vPvB – very Persistent and very Bioaccumulative substances

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APPENDIX 2 : ROLES AND DUTIES OF THE MAIN STAKEHOLDERS OF


REACH
I. Industry
A first glance at currently existing duties, which will continue after REACH enters into force:
Manufacturers/importers/downstream users need to:
• Comply with any restrictions on marketing and use of substances and preparations (restrictions
as set out in directive 76/769/EEC will be taken over by REACH in Annex XVII).
• Classify and label substances and preparations that are placed on the market according to
Directive 67/548/EEC and Directive 1999/45/EC.
• Prepare safety data sheets (SDS) for substances and preparations (requirements in Directive
91/155/EEC will be taken over by REACH in Article 31 and Annex II).
• Conduct risk assessments and reduce risks for any chemical agent occurring at the workplace
(Directive 98/24/EC on chemical agents at work).
A glance at the duties after entry into force of REACH
(1) Manufacturers and importers of substances in quantities of less than 1 tonne per year need
to:
• Classify and label substances and preparations that are placed on the market.
• Notify classification of dangerous substances to the Agency for the classification and labelling
inventory for all substances placed on the market.
• Prepare and supply safety data sheets for substances and preparations as required by Article. 31
and Annex II to downstream users and distributors.
• Prepare and supply information on non-classified substances as required by Article 32 to direct
customers.
• Conduct risk assessments and reduce risks for any chemical agent occurring at the workplace
(Directive 98/24/EC on chemical agents at work).
• Comply with any restrictions on manufacture, placing on the market and use of substances and
preparations as set out in Annex XVII.
• Apply or decide not to apply for authorisation for use(s) of substances listed in Annex XIV.
• In the case of having relevant data act as data holder in Substance Information Exchange Fora
(SIEF).
(2) Manufacturers of substances in quantities of 1 tonne or more per year need to:
• If you wish to secure the phase-in status of your substance, pre-register it to the Agency
• In case your substance is a non phase-in substance send an inquiry to the Agency whether the
registration has already been submitted for the same substance.
• Collect and share existing, and generate and propose to generate new, information on properties
and use conditions of substances.
• Prepare a technical dossier (note that special provisions apply for isolated intermediates)
• Prepare CSA and CSR (for each chemical ≥ 10 tonnes/y per manufacturer).
• Prepare CSA and CSR including exposure scenarios and risk characterisation (for each
chemical ≥ 10 tonnes per year per manufacturer, which are dangerous or fulfil the criteria as a
PBT or vPvB).

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• Implement appropriate RMMs for own manufacture and use.


• Submit registration for substances (≥ 1 tonne/y per manufacturer).
• Keep the information submitted in the registration up-to-date and submit updates to the
Agency.
• Classify and label substances and preparations that are placed on the market.
• Notify/register classification of dangerous substances with the Agency for the C&L
inventory for all substances placed on the market.
• Prepare and supply safety data sheets for substances and preparations as required by Article 31
and Annex II to downstream users and distributors.
• Recommend appropriate RMMs in SDS.
• Communicate ESs developed in CSA as Annex to the SDS (≥ 10 tonnes per year per
manufacturer).
• Prepare and supply information on non-classified substances as required by Article 32 to
downstream users and distributors.
• Conduct risk assessments and reduce risks for any chemical agent occurring at the workplace
(Directive 98/24/EC on chemical agents at work).
• Respond to any decision requiring further information as a result of the evaluation process.
• Comply with any restrictions on manufacture, placing on the market and use of substances and
preparations as set out in Annex XVII.
• Apply for authorisation for use(s) of substances listed in Annex XIV.
(3) Importers of substances and preparations in quantities of 1 tonne or more per year:
• If you wish to secure the phase-in status of your substance, pre-register it to the Agency
• In case your substance is a non phase-in substance send an inquiry to the Agency whether the
registration has already been submitted for the same substance.
• Collect and share existing, and generate and propose to generate new, information on properties
and use conditions of substances.
• Prepare a technical dossier (note that special provisions apply for isolated intermediates)
• Prepare CSA and CSR including exposure scenarios and risk characterisation (for each
chemical ≥ 10 tonnes per year per manufacturer, which are dangerous or fulfil the criteria as a
PBT or vPvB).
• Implement appropriate RMMs for own use.
• Submit registration for substances, on their own or in preparations (≥ 1 tonne/y per importer)
• Keep the information submitted in the registration up-to-date and submit updates to the
Agency..
• Classify and label substances and preparations that are placed on the market.
• Notify/register classification of dangerous substances with the Agency for the C&L inventory
for all substances placed on the market.
• Prepare and supply safety data sheets for substances and preparations as required by Article 31
and Annex II to downstream users and distributors.
• Recommend appropriate RMMs in SDS.
• Communicate ESs developed in CSA as Annex to SDS (≥ 10 tonnes/y per importer)
• Prepare and supply information on non classified substances as required by Article 32 to
downstream users and distributors.
• Respond to any decision requiring further information as a result of the evaluation process.

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• Comply with any restrictions on manufacture, placing on the market and use of substances and
preparations as set out in Annex XVII.
• Apply for authorisation for use(s) of substances listed in Annex XIV.
(4) Producers of articles:
• Under some circumstances register substances in articles (tonnage trigger > 1 tonne/y per
producer). Comply with C&L, pre-registration and inquiry obligations if relevant.
• Keep the information submitted in the registration up-to-date
• Under some circumstances notify substances in articles (tonnage trigger > 1 tonne/y per
producer).
• When receiving SDS with ESs annexed for dangerous substances and preparations to be
incorporated into the articles:
3. If the use is covered by the ES, implement RMMs as set out in ES, or
4. If the use is not covered by the SDS annex, inform supplier of the use (i.e. make use known
with the aim to make it an identified use) and await new SDS with updated ES(s) or conduct
own chemical safety assessment and (if DU tonnage ≥ 1 tonne/y) notify the Agency.
• Implement those RMMs as set out in SDS for dangerous substances and preparations which are
applicable when incorporated into the articles.
• Conduct risk assessments and reduce risks for any chemical agent occurring at the workplace
(Directive 98/24/EC on chemical agents at work).
• Respond to any decision requiring further information as a result of the evaluation process
(only relevant for registered substances).
• Comply with any restrictions on manufacture, placing on the market and use of substances
and preparations as set out in Annex XVII.
• Use substances authorised for incorporation into the articles as set out in the authorisation or
apply for authorisation for use(s) of substances listed in Annex XIV.
(5) Importers of articles:
• Under some circumstances register substances in articles (tonnage trigger > 1 tonne/y per
producer). Comply with C&L, pre-registration and inquiry obligations if relevant.
• Keep the information submitted in the registration up-to-date
• Under some circumstances notify substances in articles (tonnage trigger > 1 tonne/y per
importer).
• Respond to any decision requiring further information as a result of the evaluation process
(only relevant for registered substances).
• Comply with any restrictions on manufacture, placing on the market and use of substances and
preparations as set out in Annex XVII.
• Apply for authorisation for use(s) of substances listed in Annex XIV.
(6) Downstream Users:
• Check if the substance is placed on the list of pre-registered substances published by the
Agency. If not, and considered relevant, ask the Agency to add the substance to the list
• In the case of having relevant data act as data holder in Substance Information Exchange Fora
(SIEF).
• Implement RMMs as set out in SDS.
• When receiving SDS with ESs annexed:

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1. If DU use is covered by the ES, implement RMMs as set out in ES annexes to SDS; or
2. If DU use is not covered by the SDS annex, inform supplier of the use (i.e. make use known
with the aim to make it an identified use) and await new SDS with updated ES(s) or conduct
own chemical safety assessment and (if DU tonnage ≥ 1 tonne/y) notify the Agency.
• Prepare and supply SDS(s) and recommend appropriate RMMs in them and annex ES(s) for
further downstream use.
• Prepare and supply information on non-classified substances as required by Article 32 to
further downstream users and distributors.
• Pass on new information directly to their suppliers on the hazard of the substance and
information that might call into question the RMM identified in the SDS for identified uses.
• Conduct risk assessments and reduce risks for any chemical agent occurring at the workplace
(Directive 98/24/EC on chemical agents at work).
• Respond to any decision requiring further information as a result of the evaluation of testing
proposals in downstream user reports.
• Comply with any restrictions on manufacture, placing on the market and use of substances and
preparations as set out in Annex XVII.
• Use authorised substances as set out in the authorisation (this info should be found in the
suppliers’ SDS) or apply for authorisation for use(s) of substances listed in Annex XIV.
• Notify about using an authorised substance to the Agency
II. Member States:
• Provide advice to manufacturers, importers, downstream users and other interested parties on
their respective responsibilities and obligations under REACH (competent authorities' help
desks).
• Conduct substance evaluation of prioritised substances listed in the Community Rolling Action
Plan. Prepare draft decisions.
• Suggest harmonised C&L for CMRs and respiratory sensitizers.
• Identify substances of very high concern for authorisation.
• Suggest restrictions.
• Nominate candidates to membership of Agency committees on risk assessment and socio-
economic analysis.
• Appoint member for “member state committee” to resolve divergences of opinion on
decisions following evaluation, consider proposals for harmonised classification and
labelling, and identify substances for authorisation.
• Provide adequate scientific and technical resources to the members of the Committees that
they have nominated.
• Appoint member to the “forum” and meet to discuss enforcement matters.
• Enforce REACH.
III. Agency:
Day to day management of technical, scientific and administrative aspects of REACH.
Responsibilities:
• Provide technical and scientific guidance and tools for the operation of REACH in particular to
assist the development of chemical safety reports by industry and especially by Small and
Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs).

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• Provide technical and scientific guidance on the operation of REACH for Member State
competent authorities and provide support to the competent authorities' help desks.
• Receive and check requests for research and development (PPORD) exemptions.
• Pre-registration:
1. Receive information and grant access to all manufacturers and importers who have
submitted information on one substance. When foreseen decide about conflicting issues.
2. Publish a list of pre-registered substance on the Agency website. Update the list on the
request of downstream users.
• Operate the rules on data-sharing for non-phase-in substances.
• Registration: check completeness, require completion of registration and reject incomplete
registrations.
• Evaluation:
1. Ensure a harmonised approach. Set priorities and take decisions.
2. Conduct dossier evaluation of registrations including testing proposals and other selected
registrations.
3. Substance evaluation: Propose draft Community rolling action plans, coordinate the
substance evaluation process.
4. Take decisions on testing proposals.
• Substances in articles: take decisions on notifications.
• Authorisation/restrictions: manage the process and provide opinions. Suggest priorities.
• Secretariat for forum and committees.
• Take decisions on access to submitted data.
• Publish certain specified data on a publicly accessible database.
• Deal with complaints and appeals - registration, R&D, evaluation, confidentiality, etc.
IV. Commission:
• Take decisions on further information needs under the evaluation process where there is no
unanimous agreement by Member States.
• Include substances into the authorisation system.
• Take decisions on granting or rejecting authorisations.
• Take decisions on restrictions.
• If decision making fails at the Agency take decisions on testing proposals

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V. All stakeholders including trade or industry associations, NGOs, and the public:
Note: The following are possibilities/options for stakeholders:
• Access to non-confidential information via the Agency website.
• Request access to information.
• Evaluation: submit scientifically valid, relevant information and studies addressed by the
testing proposal published on the Agency website.
• Authorisation:
1. Provide comments on substances which the Agency has proposed to be prioritised and on
uses which are to be exempted from the authorisation requirement.
2. Provide information on possible alternatives.
• Restrictions:
1. Provide comments on restriction proposals.
2. Provide socio-economic analysis for suggested restrictions, or information to contribute to
one.
3. Provide comments on draft opinions from Agency’s committee for risk assessment and
Committee for socio-economic analysis.

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APPENDIX 3 : UPDATE OF THE DOCUMENT


All the changes introduced to the document are listed in the table below except minor changes like
correction of typos, slight changes of a sentence for better English or addition of link to another
guidance document

I. Update of the June 2007 version

Section Change made


1.3 Second part of this section detailing the Chemical Safety Assessment has been
moved to section 1.8.1
1.4 Examples of mono-constituent, multi constituent substances and UVCBs have
been added.
1.4 Example of substance in its natural state deleted to avoid confusion (although
exact)
1.5.1 A sentence has been added to the definition of the import to further clarify that.
1.5.1 Text has been modified for further clarity on the custom boundaries for
manufacture and import
1.5.2 Text has been modified for further clarity on only representatives and moved to
section 1.5.3.4
1.5.3 Clarification that the terminology “legal entity” is used in IUCLID
1.5.3.2 Example added
1.5.3.3 Text has been modified for further clarity on the responsibility of the “shipping
company” transporting substance to the EU.
1.5.3.4 New section on Only representative has been added.
1.6 Addition of a short introduction.
1.6.2.1 Text has been modified for further clarity on the requirements for
manufacturer/importer of substance on its own or in preparation also importing
the substance in article where it is intended to be released.
1.6.2.3 Text has been modified for further clarity on the tonnage to register for a non
phase-in substance as well as on the determination of the registration deadline
for phase-in substances.
The use of the 3-years average tonnage for the purpose of pre-registration has
been deleted and example 4 has been introduced.
1.6.3.4 Definition of waste in REACH added as well as some modification for further
clarity.
1.6.4.1 Correction of the example.
1.6.4.2 Correction of the example and wording of 2nd paragraph modified.
1.6.4.5 Text has been modified for further clarity.
1.6.4.6 At point (4) the wording of the 3rd bullet point has been modified for clarity.
1.6.5.1 The wording of the 1st paragraph has been slightly modified for clarity.
An additional sentence has been added to clarify that only the active substances
used for the biocidal products are exempted from registration.
1.6.5.2 The paragraph which refers to the exemption of the active substances used for
plant protection products from registration has been moved within the section
and has also been reworded for clarity.

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GUIDANCE ON REGISTRATION

Section Change made


1.6.5.3 A reference to the guidance for polymers has been added.
1.7.1.1 In the 2nd bullet point referring to the phase-in substances the exception with
regard to Bulgaria and Romania has been deleted.
Clarification of the last paragraph.
1.7.2 The last sentence of the 4th paragraph has been modified for clarity.
Correction of last sentence of 5th paragraph
1.8.1 Modification of the text including most of previous “1.3”
1.8.2 Text of the 3rd bullet point has been modified for further clarity
1.8.4 In the 1st paragraph the link to the data sharing guidance has been added.
The intention of the joint submission by adding also the reference to reduce
vertebrate animal testing has been further specified.
1.8.4.1 Link to guidance now developed in 8.2.4
2.2 It has been added to the 3rd paragraph that the inquiry process also refers to
non-pre-registered phase-in substances.
Link and more information to guidance on the pre-registration has been added
at the end of the section.
2.3 The title of the section has been made more precise and a link to the data
sharing guidance has been added.
3.1.1 A new paragraph has been added with clarification of the text based on the
discussion at the CWG meeting.
3.2 Clarification that “classification and labelling information” are not confidential
5 Corrections on the appeal procedure text.
7.1 Text has been modified for further clarity on the submission number
7.2.2 Additional guidance given for the financial completeness check
7.4 Additional information given on the registration number
8 The links to IUCLID guidance have been revised and are now given with more
details
8.2.2.1 In the example box the wording of the “Endpoint study record” has been
slightly modified.
8.2.2.2 Additional column in Table 2
Slight additions in Table 3 (on the proposals for testing)
8.2.2.5 Additional guidance developed on how to report the tonnage in IUCLID
8.2.2.6.2 A paragraph has been added at the beginning of the section.
8.2.2.6.4 In the last paragraph the reference to IUCLID has been further specified.
8.2.2.8 Additional guidance developed on confidentiality flagging in IUCLID
8.2.3 Clarification where to attach the CSR in IUCLID
8.2.4 New section on the preparation of a registration dossier in case of joint
submission.
9.1.1 Completion of paragraph for “update under the registrant’s own initiative”
Appendix 1 List of acronyms added
Appendix 2 Correction: reference to article type deleted + adding the dealing with
complaints by the Agency
Appendix 3 List of changes made during update added

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GUIDANCE ON REGISTRATION

II. Update in April 2008

Section Change made


1.5.3.4 A warning with regard to the recent change in the interpretation of the section
on “only representative” has been added.
1.6.3.2 The interpretation of processing has been deleted.

III. Update in May 2008

Section Change made


1.5.3.4 Implementation of the revised interpretation of the role of the only
representative.
7.4 The structure of the registration number has been corrected.

IV. Update in September 2008

Section Change made


1.5.3.4 Further clarifications on the only representative have been added with regard to
“direct” and “indirect” imports and the change of the only representative.

126

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