Czech National Information Centre (Help-Desk) REACH Jan Kolář April 2009

Content Introduction Main activities Statistics International cooperation Future challenges

CENIA CENIA, Czech Environmental Information Agency Established on the 1 st of April 2005 by the transformation of former Czech Environmental Institue Service Organisation for the Ministry of the Environment Collecting and interpreting of environmental data and their assessment Structure of the organisation Director’s Office Department of Technical Protection of the Environment Department of Information Support Department of Internal Services Contacts: CENIA, Czech Environmental Information Agency Litevska 1174/8, Prague 10 Tel.: Fax:

Main activities Operation of Czech National Information Centre (Help-Desk) REACH –established by the Ministry of the Environment (Competent Authority for REACH in the Czech Republic) according to Article 124 of REACH Regulation – REACH Helpdesk Correspondents’ Network (REHCORN) –network formed by Correspondents of National Information Centres –participation in regural meetings organized by European Chemical Agency (ECHA)

Czech REACH Help-Desk REACH Help-Desk operation: –questions mainly via special web form ( question transfered into helpdesk) – –2 people answering the questions (last 4 months of pre-registration period – 3 people) – answers are harmonised in cooperation with the Czech Ministry of the Environment

Statistics Number of enquiries – 2008: –January – 1 –February – 10 –March – 16 –April – 22 –May – 17 –June – 36 –July – 33 –August – 42 –September – 60 –October – 56 –November – 96 –December – 27 –aprox. 150 phone calls Number of enquiries – 2009: –January – 21 –February – 27 –March – 19 –aprox. 20 phone calls

Czech REACH Help-Desk Hot topics in enquiries: –annex IV and V exemptions (activated carbon, zeolites, …) –registration of metals (Al alloys, …) –waste and recovered substances (scrap iron, slag, PET bottles recycling, …) –substances which occure in nature (Annex V) –what is an article under REACH –obligations of downsteam users –chemical safety assessment, chemical safety report, exposure scenario –the role of an only representative and importer –SIEF establishment –registration of polymers –safety data sheets – update

Czech REACH Help-Desk Origin of enquiries: –import, distribution –chemical industry –production of metals –waste and recovery –plastics – polymers –glass and ceramics Main enquirers: –manufacturers –downsteam users –importers –distributors –consultants –only representatives

International cooperation RHEP (REACH Helpdesk Exchange Platform): –web application for cooperation of national helpdesks and ECHA –main goal – harmonized answers for questions regarding REACH across the EU –unsolved questions – discussed during REHCORN meetings with EC (DG ENV, DG ENTR)

Other activities frequently asked questions (FAQs) – put on our website basic information about REACH – put on our website awareness raising campaign on pre-registration some of the ECHA news – translated and put on our website articles published in technical magazines

Future challenges awareness raising campaign on registration – first phase – 2010 CLP Regulation (Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Substances and Mixtures) – establishment of help-desk (part of REACH help-desk or separate ???) new set of FAQs

Contacts echa.europa.eu tel.: ,