Actors in the supply-chain- Manufacturers, Importers, Distributors and downstream users
Only Representative- a natural or legal person established in the EU, who is carrying out the obligations of an importer on behalf of a natural or legal person established outside the EU for substances, preparations and articles. The customers of the Non-EU manufacturer are informed accordingly and can continue to be supplied directly. The Only Representative must have adequate knowledge about the substance and his legal obligations.
Identified application- Use of a substance as such or in a preparation, by an actor in the supply chain, including his own usage, which is intended or which has been notified in writing by a downstream user and has been included in the Chemical Safety Report
CMR- Substances, substances which have been classified as carcinogenic, mutageneous or reproduction toxic
CSA- Chemical Safety Assessment
CSR- Chemical Safety Report
Article- an object, consisting of substances or preparations, which gets a specific shape, surface or design during its production, which determines its function to a greater degree then does its chemical composition. An article can contain substances, which are intended for release. In such a case there may be the obligation to register the released substance (not if registered already in the same supply chain or if below 1 to per annum) If substances of very high concern are contained in the article above a concentration of 0, 1% (Wt/Wt) a notification has to made to ECHA and the customer
Exposition- In the meaning of occupational and consumer health protection this defines how a chemical is taken up in the human organism (inhalation, oral or dermal) Environmental exposition implies that substances get into the compartments air, water and soil, and that organisms are exposed to them. The exposition scenario is a detailed description of the relevant application quantifying and qualifying the kind of exposition, its duration, frequency and/or other conditions Formulator - Producer of preparations (mainly liquids such as coatings)
GHS (Globally Harmonised System)- Standard developed by the United Nations to achieve a global harmonisation of the labelling and classification of chemicals. The GHS standards will be integrated into the REACH regime using phase-in periods for the implementation
Distributor- a natural or legal person established in the EU, who stores a substance as such or in a preparation without any downstream user activities for the purpose of placing them into the market. A distributor cannot do a registration under REACH. A distributor has obligations to pass on information downstream and upstream the supply chain.
Manufacturer- a natural or legal person established in the EU, who manufactures a substance inside the EU (by a chemical process or by extraction).A manufacturer has the obligation to register the substance he manufactures, as far as there is no exemption.
Importer- a natural or legal person established in the EU, who introduces substances, preparations or articles into the customs tariff area of the EU. Important under REACH: a natural or legal person established outside the EU cannot be an importer!
Downstream user - a natural or legal person established in the EU other than a manufacturer or importer. A downstream user uses a substance as such or in a preparation in an industrial or professional application. The use is the processing, the formulation, the consumption, the treatment, the refilling from one container into another, the mixture, the production of an article or any other usage. Distributors and consumers are not downstream users.
PBT- substances, classified as being persistent (low bio-degradation), bio-accumulative and toxic
Producer- downstream user, producing an article
Substance - a chemical element or its compounds manufactured by a chemical process or extracted from its natural state. The substance definition includes any additives necessary for its stability and any impurities resulting from the manufacturing process. Not included in the definition are solvents which can be removed without affecting the stability.
SVHC-substances (Substances of very high concern), substances which are representing high risks to humans and environment. Beside the substances classified as CMR, vPvB und PBT-this also includes the endocrine disruptors or any other substances scientifically evaluated as being of very high concern. These substances are subject to an authorisation which might result in restrictions or banning
vPvB-substances very persistent and very bio-accumulative substances
Preparation- A mixture or solution of two or more substances