REACH stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and restriction of Chemicals. It is the European Union’s comprehensive regulation aimed at ensuring the safe use of chemicals. Established by the European Parliament in 2007, REACH seeks to protect human health and the environment by regulating chemical substances used in both industrial processes and everyday products like food, beauty products, cleaning supplies, paints, and furniture. The question is, why has the EU banned literally thousands of chemicals that are approved here in the US? When it comes to protecting the health of our citizens, what’s our REACH?
Just One Example of the Problem
Does your refrigerator or pantry contain any foods or beverages that are bright orange or yellow in color? If the the answer is yes, then you’re eating Red Dye No. 40, Yellow Dye No. 5, and Yellow Dye No. 6. These are all synthetic food colorings used in a wide range of processed foods in the US but prohibited in the EU.
What’s interesting to note is that many name brand products that use these dyes in the US, such as Doritos, are sold in the EU, just without the potentially harmful chemicals. Many manufacturers know how to make these foods without the harmful chemicals. They just choose not to. These dyes have been linked to a variety of health concerns, such as hyperactivity in children and potential allergic reactions, but they are still being sold in the US, mainly to children. And again, this is just one such example. In the European Union, REACH is protecting the population from these harmful chemicals.
And to be clear, Doritos are one example, not the only example. REACH banned chemicals can be found in every isle of your local grocery store. They include not only snack foods and beverages like sodas, chips, and candy but everyday staples like breakfast cereals, milk, meat, chicken, and bread.
How REACH Works
REACH is based on four key processes:
- Registration: Companies must register chemicals produced or imported in quantities of 1 ton or more per year, providing detailed information on their properties and potential impacts.
- Evaluation: The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) assesses registered chemicals to ensure they do not pose unacceptable risks to health or the environment.
- Authorization: Chemicals of “very high concern” (carcinogenic, mutagenic, toxic, or endocrine disruptors) require special authorization for use.
- Restriction: Harmful chemicals can be restricted or banned if they pose significant risks.
Key Features of REACH
- No Data, No Market: Chemicals lacking safety data cannot be sold in the EU.
- Manufacturer Responsibility: Companies must prove their products are safe.
- Safety First: Hazardous chemicals can be banned outright.
- Transparency: Information on chemical risks is widely accessible.
- Encouraging Innovation: REACH promotes the development of safer alternatives.
Chemical Bans: EU vs. US
It’s no surprise that the EU’s REACH regulations are stricter than U.S. laws, leading to the ban or restriction of several chemicals still allowed in the U.S., including:
- Asbestos: Banned in the EU, limited use in the U.S.
- Formaldehyde: Tightly regulated in the EU, common in U.S. products (particularly beauty).
- Chromium: Banned in EU industrial processes, still in use in the U.S.
- Atrazine: Banned in the EU since 2004, widely used in U.S. agriculture.
- Bisphenol A (BPA): Restricted in the EU, less regulated in the U.S.
- TCEP: A flame retardant banned in the EU, still allowed in the U.S.
- Phthalates: Limited in the EU due to reproductive health concerns, widely used in the U.S.
REACH Outside of the Box
REACH has driven chemical companies to innovate, creating safer alternatives and reducing the use of harmful substances. This regulation has led to a significant reduction in EU citizens’ exposure to dangerous chemicals, promoting safer consumer products and a cleaner environment.
Global Influence
REACH’s impact extends globally, influencing chemical safety standards beyond Europe. Countries like China and South Korea have adopted similar regulations, making REACH a model for worldwide chemical safety. Including here in the US.
REACH vs. U.S. Regulations
The current U.S. regulations regarding chemicals and chemical safety does not have the same REACH. The U.S. follows the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), which differs from REACH in key areas:
- Pre-market Approval: REACH requires safety data before market entry, while TSCA assesses chemicals after they’re in use.
- Scope: TSCA covers fewer substances compared to REACH.
- Transparency: REACH emphasizes public access to chemical safety information. TSCA, on the other hand, often is criticized for not making information available to the public.
Certainly, for the U.S. to “reach for the best” in chemical safety, stronger regulations are essential. It is only by advancing our chemical safety standards and green technologies to meet or exceed those of other countries can we ensure the well-being of our people and the planet.
Call to Action
Want to put these chemicals out of REACH for your loved ones? Start by educating yourself, reading labels, and becoming an informed consumer. Then, take that extra step to REACH out to manufacturers, lawmakers, and regulatory agencies to let them know how you feel about unnecessary chemicals endangering the health of your family and community. It all starts with…US.
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