REACH: responsible production

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Ancora O que é REACH?

What is REACH?

The Regulation known as REACH came into force on June 1, 2007 to control chemical products manufactured and imported into the member states of the European Union (EU), with the aim of ensuring a high level of protection for human health and the environment.

REACH has shifted the responsibility for ensuring the health, safety, and environmental information of its products to the industry, requiring European manufacturers and importers to register their chemical substances with the Regulatory Agency ECHA (European Chemicals Agency), before placing them on the European market.

The Regulation also sought to promote the development of alternative methods for assessing the dangers of chemical substances, with the purpose of reducing the number of tests on animals, in addition to guaranteeing their free circulation in the EU, simultaneously reinforcing competitiveness and innovation.

The registration of substances takes place through the drafting and submission of a technical dossier to ECHA, containing information on the characteristics of the products, with data on composition, production process, physical-chemical, toxicological and ecotoxicological properties, among others.

Substances submitted for registration are subject to an evaluation, authorization or restriction process by authorities including the European Commission, ECHA and/or member states. All chemicals are included in the scope of REACH unless classified as exempt by the Regulation.

In addition to regulating chemicals in EU member states, REACH also applies in the EEA (European Economic Area), including Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland.

To understand the stages of the REACH Regulation in detail, visit the ECHA website.

Ancora A Petrobras no REACH

Petrobras in REACH

Petrobras products that are imported or placed on the European market have been duly registered as required by the REACH Regulation.

As the obligation to register substances under REACH is legally restricted to European companies, the registration of substances produced by Petrobras S.A. in Brazil and sold in the European market fell to two companies belonging to the Petrobras System installed there: PETROBRAS GLOBAL TRADING B.V. - PGT BV , in the Netherlands, as a European importer, and PETROBRAS EUROPE LTD – PEL, in the United Kingdom, as only representative ('O.R.') of Petrobras S.A. as a non-European producer.

During the period from 2010 to 2013, Petrobras successfully completed more than 100 REACH registrations, thus being able to operate in the European market in accordance with the Regulation. In addition to the substances that were subject to registration under REACH, Petrobras also made the necessary notifications in accordance with the CLP Regulation (Classification, Labeling and Packaging – CE Reg. No. 1272/2018), for those substances placed on the European market considered exempt from registration, such as oil and natural gas.

As a result of the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Community (BREXIT) in December 2020, the registrations made under REACH by PEL as the only representative of Petrobras S.A. were transferred to PGT BV, which now accumulates two roles under REACH: O.R. of Petrobras S.A. and European importer.

Find here the full list of substances registered and notified by Petrobras companies in REACH/CLP.

For more details on the CLP Regulation, click here.

Ancora Conformidade ao REACH

A hand, wearing black gloves, carefully pours clear oil into a glass.

REACH compliance

REACH obligations do not end with the registration of substances. Maintaining compliance with the Regulations should be an ongoing concern for registrants.

Once the substance registration step is completed, European producers, importers and only representatives need to periodically update their registrations, as an essential part of maintaining REACH Compliance.

The information contained in the registration dossiers must also be reflected in the product safety data sheets (SDS), which are the main compliance document in the supply chain.

Updating dossiers is a legal obligation under Section 22 of REACH, which imposes duties on all registrants to carry out this activity on their own initiative and without undue delay, whenever there is new information or significant changes on substances, such as new test results and adjustments in uses.

As it is a complex activity, which involves extensive technical work and which may result in the need for new samples and physical-chemical analyses of the recorded currents, this process demands a multidisciplinary effort that involves different areas of the Company.

Through the implementation of internal processes, standards and training of teams working in the foreign trade of products, Petrobras maintains compliance of its commercial operations in European territory under the REACH Regulation.

Ancora Contato

Contact us and links to additional information.

For more information about Petrobras products under REACH, including product safety data sheets, please contact us via email REACH@petrobras.com.br

Alternatively, any questions about Petrobras' REACH registrations can also be addressed to your usual business contact at the Company.

Petrobras recommends that its customers specifically assess their legal responsibilities regarding REACH before any importation into the European Economic Area.

Additional information about REACH can be found on the following websites: