SAFC Adopts Targeted Approach to Reach Pre-Re...( ST. LOUIS Mo. Jan. 28 /- With the pre...)

ST. LOUIS, Mo., Jan. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- With the pre-registration period for the European REACH regulation (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and restriction of Chemicals) having ended on December 1, 2008, SAFC Supply Solutions(R), a business segment of SAFC(R), a member of the Sigma-Aldrich Group (Nasdaq: SIAL), conducted extensive research into which products would be required in multi-ton quantities post-deadline, and assessed its capacity to supply the products deemed critical to its customers' supply chains, resulting in over 1,000 pre-registrations. In the event of new customer requirements, SAFC intends to conduct the same supply chain assessment on an ongoing basis, pre-registering additional substances in due course.

SAFC Supply Solutions Market Segment Manager, Carole Garcia observes: "SAFC believes its targeted approach to pre-registration is the best way to avoid sourcing and supply problems and minimize any potential supply chain interruptions and subsequent losses in revenue. It may be difficult to ascertain which products are genuinely available, so the status of 'orphan' substances - those that have not been pre-registered by any supplier but have a user with requirements of more than one metric ton per year - is clouded. That's why SAFC is urging companies to take stock of the situation now that the pre-registration period is over, to assess any weaknesses they may have in their supply chain."

The next major milestone in the REACH process is in June 2009 when European Chemicals Agency publishes a priority list of the substances submitted for future authorization. From the 15 substances included on the candidate list, seven have been recommended by the ECHA as priorities for the first batch for inclusion in Annex XIV. It is possible that more Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) will be published i
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