TÜV Product Service today launches its REACh Consultancy Service to help retailers and importers ensure that they comply with the most significant piece of EU chemicals legislation implemented in recent years.
The Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACh) regulation means that for the first time those in the retail supply chain will have to prove that what they sell is compliant. This includes all finished products sold in the EU, from tables to towels and from electrical goods to toys.
The new TÜV service will help retailers and importers to implement a robust quality and supply chain management system. This includes an inspection of the entire supply chain such as new supplier assessments, ongoing supplier audits and spot check chemical testing of products.
Every year RAPEX, the EU’s rapid alert system for dangerous consumer products, identifies many items that contain high levels of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC). These include chemicals such as carcinogens, mutagens and other toxic substances. Under the new law, any retailer can be challenged by a member of the public to prove that their products do not contain SVHCs above the maximum quantities allowed. It is therefore essential that retailers have a system in place for proving due diligence and compliance with REACh.
Jean-Louis Evans, Managing Director of TÜV Product Service, said: “The European Chemical Industry Council is now turning its attention from chemical manufacturers to the wider supply chain. While REACh aims to protect our health, it has opened up a minefield for retailers and their supply chain as this is the first time that they have been required to prove products safety to such a degree. Our new service will help them to implement a systematic approach to ensure that they comply and also help protect their brand reputation from any chemical scares.”
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About TÜV Product Service www.tuvps.co.uk
TÜV Product Service is one of the world’s leading experts on product testing with 170,000 product certifications in circulation globally. It is also the leader in the test and certification of medical devices, with more than 1,000 customers globally. With 13,000 employees worldwide, TÜV covers regulatory and voluntary aspects associated with satisfying legal and cultural requirements for products. It also helps retailers across the world to ensure a consistent supply chain by helping them to ensure safe, compliant and reliable products are put on the shelves.
