REACH to Take Effect on June 1 - RAG Subsidiary Degussa is Ready

"We support the objective of REACH, which aims to improve further the protection of health and the environment with respect to the handling of chemicals. This is also in accordance with Degussa's principles. At the same time, we not only want to maintain the competitive edge and innovational potential of the industry, but plan to expand it further," declared Dr. Klaus Engel, chairman of the Degussa GmbH Management Board, with regard to the REACH Directive, which is taking effect throughout Europe today.

"Our company has played an active role in the development of an effective and efficient chemicals law in the EU from the beginning and has contributed to the European legislative process. Now that REACH has become applicable law, it goes without saying that we will implement it in our company," explains Ralf Blauth, Human Resources Officer and responsible for Environment and Safety within the Degussa GmbH Managing Board.

A separately established project organization will be responsible for implementation. It will combine the activities of the decentralized units into a REACH work team and coordinate the necessary data and information for pre-registration and registration. "We are carefully recording how many and which of our substances are subject to the REACH regulations and are actively preparing for pre-registration as a first step," reports Dr. Rudolph, Head of Environment at Degussa GmbH. "Degussa has intensified its communication with suppliers and customers in order to meet the new legislative requirements in a timely, efficient, and flexible manner."


The Chemical Management System (Degussa CMS), already developed some years ago, has created excellent conditions for the consistent implementation of REACH. Operative units will be using the system to improve further the fulfillment of their product responsibility obligations. Thanks to these preparations, the company is well set up for the future.