WASHINGTON European Union environmental legislation that takes effect on Dec. 1 will require manufacturers to register chemicals used in products sold in the EU.
Under the EU's Reach program, all chemicals used in manufacturing or imported into EU countries in amounts over 1 ton annually must be registered with the EU Chemicals Agency. Reach stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals.
The new rules cover a broad range of manufacturing, including electronics, aerospace and automotive.
In October, the EU chemicals agency published a list of "15 Substances of Very High Concern," including carcinogens, persistent, "bioaccumulative" and toxic substances. The new list will require companies to review their manufacturing supply chains to determine their legal obligations under the new environmental rules.