Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) is a major piece of legislation of the European Union (EU). It was adopted to improve the protection of human health and the environment from the risks that can be posed by hazardous chemicals, while at the same time enhancing competitiveness and innovation.

The REACH processes and their interactions are complex and present significant obsolescence risks for space materials and processes. Exemptions are only available in a limited number of cases, often not specific to space.

Key substances concerned, which are subject to REACH regulatory measures in place or intended, include (not exhaustive): Chromium (VI) substances, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), diisocyanates, hydrazine, lead metal, Bisphenol A, D4-6 cyclic siloxanes or microplastic.

In addition, a number of other requirements addressing chemicals and space-relevant products have come into focus or are gaining ground again, e.g. Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on persistent organic pollutants, Occupational Exposure Limits under EU Occupational Safety and Health legislation and the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (EU) 2024/1781.

The Materials and Processes Technology Board (MPTB) chaired by ESA has been very active in conducting REACH-related obsolescence risk assessment and regulatory monitoring. It has also developed a range of sectorial compliance recommendations and advocacy measures to minimise and mitigate obsolescence risks for the benefit of the entire European Space Sector.

The session is addressed to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and professionals involved in space projects, but not intrinsically familiar with the REACH requirements and their impacts.

The session aims to:

• provide a basic overview of the EU REACH requirements;
• clarify the status of key substances (or groups of substances) concerned and related regulatory timelines;
• point the audience to the latest compliance recommendations and advocacy papers prepared by the MPTB and its sub-groups;
• offer an outlook of other relevant regulations addressing chemicals, as well as the state of play of the planned REACH Regulation Revision and other EU simplification initiatives;
• answer frequently asked questions to the ESA REACH Office and questions from the attendees during the event.

Introductions to the MPTB and EU REACH, reporting on Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) in space products in the supply chain and to ECHA (SCIP), REACH obsolescence management, authorisation and restriction processes, corresponding requirements in Great Britain (UK REACH) and Switzerland (ChemO, ORRChem), regulatory evolutions and outlook.

ESA REACH Officer and REACHLaw (Consultant)

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