Dow helps EU importers with REACH compliance

Dec. 4, 2008

Horgen, Switzerland, December 3 —Shifting its focus from REACH pre-registration
to registration, The Dow Chemical Company announced that it has established the Dow Only Representative Trustee (ORT) to leverage REACH registrations and thereby reduce costs all along its supply chains. Under some specific conditions, the Dow ORT can offer to use the Dow registrations to cover under REACH the so called ‘indirect imports” of Dow substances by European Union (EU) importers.

To ensure confidentiality of customers’ business information, Dow has selected PricewaterhouseCoopers Advisory N.V. in the Netherlands to operate as the trustee. With the Only Representative Trustee solution, Dow would enable its selected direct non-EU customers and indirect EU customers (importers) to avoid excessive REACH compliance costs.

Thanks to the Dow ORT it can be much easier for EU importers within Dow’s supply chain to see their REACH registration obligations covered. Dow’s extensive experience and considerable reputation in product safety is further enhanced by the innovative solution proposed by the Company to deal with one of the most challenging aspects of the REACH regulation.

Dow is dedicated to the principles of Responsible Care as demonstrated by its 2015 Sustainability Goals. These goals aim to help focus on strengthening relationships, continuing to improve product stewardship and reducing the global footprint. Meeting the goal of Product Safety Commitment is moving Dow forward. A key element in meeting that commitment is compliance with REACH.

REACH stands for the Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals, an EU regulation that entered into force on June 1, 2007. The regulation stipulates that companies manage the risks of all chemical substances and preparations that they produce, import, process, use and/or distribute in the EU in quantities greater than 1 ton per year. Its goal is to ensure safe use of chemicals for humans and the environment through appropriate risk management throughout the product life cycle from production to disposal.