REACH regulation breaches cause widespread loss

By Tom Kilkelly

5 October 2023

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Sir Michael Ryan CBE

Attendees of the annual Farnborough Aerospace Consortium’s conference heard about the problems of REACH regulations and their consequences for the business world.

REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) is a European Union regulation dating from 18 December 2006 stipulates that chemical substances that exceed 1 tonne per year per company must be registered with ECHA.

A lack of clarity on EU regulations, which speakers at the FAC described as 'like trying to catch fog', could have problematic financial implications for businesses.

The debate in question was centred around the EU’s REACH regulations that were introduced some years ago and were designed to remove harmful chemicals from the workplace and the environment.

While alternatives have been found for the majority, some remain in use and these chemicals are due to be outlawed next year.

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A lack of guidance on what regulations actually are seemed to be the focal point of many SMEs dismay.

Sean Hammond, from South West Metal Finishing, said: “As a company we are having to make educated assumptions about what will happen because there is no guidance.

“But the ability to have an escalation of our voice through the FAC conference to those who will listen is very important. The level of information at the conference was extremely high and very useful for SMEs.”

One of the keynote speakers was Sir Michael Ryan CBE, who co-chairs the Aerospace Growth Partnership, among other roles, and he said he’d pass the concerns directly to Government Ministers.

Alan Fisher, FAC’s chief executive officer, said: “The REACH regulations are a big issue and there was a very frank discussion about what they mean for business.

“The regulations relate to all manufacturing, but aerospace is more affected than most. We will continue to help our members win business with the world’s major companies, and lobby hard on their behalf.”

By Tom Kilkelly

Tom Kilkelly started working as a freelance journalist for The Business Magazine following his graduation from UCL in 2022.

During his studies Tom became very interested in the works of Irish authors including Samuel Beckett and Flann O'Brien (Brian O'Nolan).

His current role as a freelance business reporter is his first exposure to the world of business journalism. Working at TBM has given Tom the chance to really get to grips with the goings-on in the business hive that is the South East.