The European Commission is currently working on a proposal for an "implementing act" on data sharing and costs incurred by data sharing under the REACH Regulation.
The new rules will be aimed at helping small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to cope with the costs of REACH compliance. Over the last year, the consequences and burden of REACH for EU SMEs was highly debated. In that context, a study conducted by professor Jacques Pelkmans of the Brussels think tank Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) called for the introduction of strong rules for substance information exchange fora (SIEFS) to help SMEs.
The Commission has shared that SIEFS are of a particular concern, in addition to the fact that the need for supply chain communication sometimes can clash with the need to keep formulations secret. Thus, pragmatic solutions, like CEPS study, are most welcomed by the decision-maker. Moreover, the Commission has also emphasized that the reduced registration fees for SMEs, the provision of simpler guidance and the refocusing of the work of the Directors' Contact were also part of the efforts to help SMEs comply with REACH.
It is expected that the Commission will present its draft proposal at the next Competent Authorities for REACH and CLP (Caracal) meeting on 10-11 July 2014.
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