Every year, 300 million tonnes of chemical substances are manufactured on European territory, of which almost three-quarters (74%) are considered potentially dangerous for the environment and human health, according to the European Environment Agency.
Faced with this observation, the REACH regulation plays a central role in the regulation of chemicals within the European Union. This regulation, which has been under consideration for several years, has a significant impact on the activity of many industries, including the aeronautics sector.
What is the REACH regulation?
The European REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) regulation, which came into force in 2007, aims to identify, control, evaluate and limit chemical substances manufactured and imported into the European market.
The REACH regulation concerns all companies in the EEA (European Economic Area), which use, manufacture or import chemical substances (including in the form of mixtures).
Since 31 May 2018, REACH has prohibited the manufacture or import of substances weighing more than one tonne per year if they have not been previously registered on the ECHA website (European Chemicals Agency – European Chemicals Agency). This registration is based on the creation of a dossier consisting of all the physico-chemical, toxicological and ecotoxicological properties of the substances; a health and environmental risk assessment and appropriate management actions to demonstrate that the substance is handled safely throughout the supply chain.
After a rigorous analysis of the registration dossier and depending on the level of risk detected, the placing on the market of products and their use may be authorised, restricted or prohibited. The REACH regulation is based on the principle of “no data, no market”. In other words, if the substances are not registered, it is forbidden to place them on the market.
What are the objectives of the REACH regulation?
This regulation meets several objectives, including:
- Limit the environmental risks associated with the use and manufacture of chemical substances;
- Controlling the risks of chemical substances to human health;
- Strengthen safety conditions when handling chemical substances;
- Promote transparency of information on the risks of chemical substances, from the supplier to the end customer;
- Strengthen the competitiveness of players in the chemical industry, a promising sector of the European economy;
- Raise awareness and empower all links in the industrial chain;
- …
This law also concerns all chemical substances, whether natural, organic or metallic, used in industrial processes and present in everyday products (household products, paints, textiles, furniture, electronic devices, make-up, toys, etc.). Among the most worrying are carcinogenic, mutagenic, toxic, bioaccumulative substances, endocrine disruptors, phthalates, bisphenols, parabens, PFAS (eternal pollutants)…
Revision of the REACH regulation: where do we stand?
The revision of REACH, considered essential by many actors in the context of the European Green Deal for the ecological transition, was announced in 2020, in order to bring this regulation up to date, 17 years after its creation.
This reform was supposed to make it possible to achieve, by 2030, a massive ban or restriction many dangerous chemicals. It could also lead to significant savings, between €11 billion and €30 billion per year.
Postponed several times, this revision has been postponed once again in 2023, sine die, by the European Commission. While this reform remains essential to meet current environmental and health challenges, it is not included in the European Commission’s 2024 work programme and the date of its implementation is currently unknown.
What are the impacts of the revision of the REACH regulation for the aeronautics sector?
If adopted, the reform of REACH should strengthen the conditions for the regulation of chemicals in Europe, as well as registration procedures and penalties for non-compliance.
For the aeronautics sector and other industrial sectors, this could have several impacts, concerning the entire supply chain and the players in the sector: raw material suppliers, component manufacturers, aircraft manufacturers, airlines, etc.
Indeed, the players in the aeronautics could be forced to eliminate or significantly reduce certain chemical substances classified as hazardous (volatile organic solvents, chromates, phosphates, etc.). This would involve finding safer alternatives, which can generate additional costs needed to finance research into new materials and processes.
These changes could also lead to the development of technological innovations and more sustainable materials and components that respect human health and the planet. If this is the case, then it is possible that the revision of the REACH regulation, if it takes place, will contribute to strengthening the competitiveness of the entire aviation sector.
