High level contact group set up to address industry concerns over EU's REACH deadline

A high level contact group has been set up to address European Union industry concerns about meeting the November 30, 2010, deadline under REACH for registration of chemicals that are produced in high volumes and/or are most hazardous.

The EU's REACH chemical legislation affects the drug industry, as it covers all substances for synthesis or processing used in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals.

According to the REACH Regulation, failure to register by the deadline means that a substance cannot be used or put on the market. The group, called the Directors' Contact Group, met for the first time on February 5 in Brussels. The group consists of director-level representatives from the European Commission, the European Chemicals Agency and from the industry associations CEFIC, Eurometaux, REACH Alliance, Concawe, FECC and UEAPME.