Printed from the Field Fisher Waterhouse web site
Web address: http://www.ffw.com/practices/competition_eu_regulatory/chemicals.aspx

European flag

Agrochemicals / REACH

The complex European REACH legislation affects more than 100,000 substances placed on the EU market and impacts far beyond chemical companies. The aim of REACH is to transfer responsibility for the generation of data on the safety of chemicals to industry. As a result, EU manufacturers, importers, retailers and users of chemical substances are subject to direct obligations to generate and share data if they are to maintain market access. Exporters to the EU face indirect obligations, particularly to protect confidential business information.

The “no data, no market” principle and strict time limits, means that companies can easily find themselves shut out of the market. Complying with REACH in a manner that is commercially viable and does not give rise to antitrust risks is a significant challenge.

Our service

We have the pre-eminent REACH legal team in Europe. Our team includes lawyers and chemical engineers who bring outstanding experience and depth of understanding to the practical challenges presented by REACH. 

We can help you secure REACH compliance no matter what your level in the supply chain, whether based in the EU or elsewhere. We can support you at all stages of compliance including the transition from pre-SIEF to SIEF, drafting agreements for consortia, membership conditions, helping companies to manage the antitrust risks that arise when competitors co-operate, data analysis, data valuation and protection, dealing with SVHC, compliance training and product defence.   

Our in-depth technical and industry knowledge also adds substantial value to M&A transactions, for example, we can help you with your due diligence.

Through our transfer pricing and valuation team, we can also advise chemical companies on data valuation strategies in the context of consortia and letters of access, as well as help you with challenges to regulatory decisions before both national and EU courts.

Our experience

Our REACH team has the legal, technical and commercial experience and expertise that is needed to secure your business and manage the entire REACH compliance process, including:

  • consortia
  • data management
  • SIEF participation
  • antitrust compliance
  • drafting agreements
  • registration dossier
  • appeals and challenges
  • REACH Trustee