This policy seeks to balance health and environmental benefits with the need to sustain a competitive, innovative and job-creating European industry and the proper functioning of the internal market. In this context, the main objectives of the new REACH system are:
- To establish a coherent registration system designed to provide basic hazard and risk information on new and existing chemical substances manufactured in or imported into the EU;
- To reverse the burden of proof, moving it away from Member States' authorities to producing and importing companies, who will be responsible for demonstrating that substances can be used safely;
- To introduce responsibility for downstream users to provide information on uses and associated risk management measures relating to substances;
- To maintain the existing restriction system and to introduce an authorization procedure for the most hazardous substances as a new instrument;
- To ensure greater transparency and openness for the public by providing easier access to relevant information on chemicals;
- To establish a European Chemicals Agency to facilitate the administration of REACH and ensure that the system is applied in a harmonized way across the EU.