Software Tracks New REACH Candidate List of Substances
Synapsis Technology, Inc. of Spring House, Pa., announced Nov. 12 that EMARS™, its environmental compliance software solution, now enables manufacturers to track Europe's recently published "Candidate List" of 15 substances of very high concern (SVHC).
Under Europe's new chemical law, REACH, manufacturers are now required to provide information on the presence of these SVHC in their products to customers and to consumers within 45 days of any inquiry.
The European Chemicals Agency published the list of 15 SVHC in a press release on Oct. 28. The list includes substances with "intrinsic hazardous properties" such as carcinogens, mutagens, and substances that are toxic to reproduction. The agency
indicated that work is already under way to add more substances to the list, which is expected to grow to more than 1,000 substances.
The REACH law encourages manufacturers to seek safer alternatives for these hazardous substances. Europe will ultimately restrict their use in products. Well before they are restricted, a "blacklist" effect is expected to remove many of these substances from the market. As a result, SVHC pose a significant business risk to manufacturers.
To manage this risk and ensure compliance with REACH, manufacturers must track and report the presence of SVHC in their products – those targeted today and those that are likely to be targeted in the future. This task is complicated because products can contain thousands of chemical substances.
The new software functionality enables users to:
John Fox, Synapsis' director of Strategy and Business Development said, "This new EMARS functionality gives product manufacturers greater insight into their potential exposure to current and future REACH SVHC. Having an early warning system is key. When companies can pinpoint these high-risk substances in their products early, they can make better design and supply chain decisions, reduce their exposure, and avoid costs."