The European Union announced and implemented the EC Regulation No. 1907/2006, concerning Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH regulations) on June 1^st, 2007. This marked the official beginning of new chemical substance policies in the EU and served to forewarn businesses within the EU and those exporting to Europe that they would have to begin contemplating the influence chemical substances have on humans and the environment, and also what their corporate responsibilities are.

According to statistics from the European Economic and Trade Office, Chinese Taipei exported up to €2.3 billion, the equivalent of NT$100 billion or so, in product categories such as chemical products, steel, textile and apparel, and non-agricultural raw materials alone, out of the main trade products that Chinese Taipei exported to EU member nations in 2008. If businesses making exports to Europe do not gain a proactive understanding of REACH regulations, or fail to come up with response strategies, this may mean a possible loss of business potential.

Since 2005, the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Industrial Development Bureau has been proactively concerned with the development and direction of these regulations while also beginning evaluations. The Bureau has already formed appropriate response strategies, based upon foreign methodology, to assist businesses with adapting effectively to the REACH regulations. After considering that the entire text of the REACH regulations would be near impossible for businesses to read and understand on their own as it includes 141 articles and 17 annexes which are complicated in content and cover a multitude of professional territories (including regulations relating to toxicology, environmental toxicology, risk assessment, chemistry, etc.), that there are also a variety of implementation schedules and evaluation points within the REACH regulations, and different responsibilities and obligations for each role in the supply chain, the Bureau has provided the steps and response measures listed below as a practical means to assist businesses making exports to Europe with responding to the impact of REACH regulations. Through understanding the REACH regulations, they will be able to respond effectively.