The Council Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) has been described as the 'most complex piece of legislation in EU history'. Entering into force on 1 June 2007, the Regulation constitutes the basic law for any business involved in chemical substances in the European Union. It is meant to improve the protection of human health and the environment, as well as the enhancement of innovation and competitiveness of the chemical industry in the EU. In accordance with the REACH Regulation importers and manufacturers are required to gather information on the properties of their chemical substances and to register the information in a central database operated by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) based in Helsinki.

This handbook covers all the relevant issues from initial registration of chemical substances to the final enforcement of the obligations under the Regulation.