The fourth European REACH Congress: REACH Today and the Challenges Ahead

As a maturing regulation, with the end of the existing substance registration phase less than six months ahead, the fourth TSGE Forum REACH Congress will focus on the other aspects of the ‘REACH’ regulation such as evaluation and authorisation and other developing issues.

These will increasingly impact European chemicals companies in the near term. As usual, the Congress arrangements will provide expert views and experiences from the front line and the opportunity for open discussion and questions.

The Congress opens on the afternoon of 21 November, with two workshops hosted by TSGE Consulting specialists:

1. focussing on improving the human health aspects of chemical safety reports and
2. how to make the best use of data, generated for REACH, beyond the EU.

The regular evening drinks reception follows to allow an informal catch up with friends, colleagues and new contacts.

The first full day of the congress will open with a view from Erwyn Annys, (CEFIC) on the industry after ten years of REACH. The day will focus on the processes in authorisation with lessons from risk management options (France Capon, EPMF), details of successful socio-economic analysis (Richard Dubourg, The Economic Interface), considerations for down-stream users in authorisation from Ying Zhu (REACHLaw) and the challenges in the supply chain (Irantzu Garmendia (FECC).

The afternoon session will focus on real world experiences from different industry sectors dealing with hazardous substance substitution. Healthcare is represented by Dr. Jan Backman (F.Hoffman-La Roche ltd), the construction industry by Marianne Heberg (Swedish Construction Federation) and industrial/speciality chemicals by Ronald Bock (Chemours International Operations).

Day one closes with a look at the online B2B platform for assessing alternatives to hazardous chemicals developed by the NGO ChemSec, followed by the Congress Drinks Reception to allow delegates to discuss any questions and share experiences directly with speakers and colleagues.

Day two concerns technical aspects of handling issues of hazardous substances and generating useful data with PBT and vPvB criteria from Bruce Callow (TSGE Consulting) and machine learning for data generation in QSAR by Craig Rowlands (UL Ventures). We will also look at developing issues with a presentation from Igor Danilov (Dentons Europe LLP) on the regulatory framework for chemicals in the EAEU/Russia.

Following on, Simon Tilling (Burgess and Salmon LLP) will discuss concerns around so-called ‘Brexit’ and Melih Babayigit (CRAD) will update on Turkey REACH (KKLDIK). The Congress will close with lunch after the second morning to allow delegates free-time in the lovely city of Düsseldorf or travel home.

The TSGE Forum team look forward to welcoming back both regular attendees and new delegates for another successful REACH Congress, focussed on the interests of the EU Chemicals business.