The formation of a REACH consortium helps manufacturers and importers of chemical substances guarantee that their business interests remain protected.
A safe way to share data and register
The REACH regulation introduces a Substance Information Exchange Forum (SIEF) primarily to share data among manufacturers and importers of the same substance.
A SIEF is a virtual platform gathering potential registrants of the same substance to facilitate the required data and cost sharing processes as well as to prepare a joint submission of certain data to the European Chemical Agency (ECHA). It enables the exchange of information between potential registrants and is also a platform to prepare jointly the data required for REACH registration. SIEFs help to minimise duplication of testing and aim to foster agreement on substance classification and labelling.
A SIEF is composed of companies that agree on the sameness of a chemical substance and therefore have the obligation to share vertebrate studies. SIEF participants react to requests, identify needs for further studies and arrange to carry them out. A SIEF is operational until 11 years after entry into force of the REACH regulation.
Potential registrants participating in a SIEF are free to organise themselves as they want in order to meet the obligations under REACH. They can use different forms of cooperation to do so, including the creation of a consortium.
How a consortium works
A consortium agreement is a contract and therefore the parties are free to decide on its content, bearing in mind their legal obligations under European Union laws governing competition and under REACH.
In particular, it is crucial for the members of a consortium to establish a transparent organisational structure and rules regarding:
- membership
- allocation of tasks and responsibilities
- data valuation
- allocation of costs of cooperation
REACH Consortia can act on behalf of their members towards outside parties. Members of a consortium can decide to jointly submit technical data and a chemical safety report on a substance. Consortia usually have no legal personality. They are typically flexible and limited in scope and time. A consortium operates through several bodies, such as Steering and Technical Committees to give overall direction and take technical decisions. A Manager or Secretariat will ensure optimal management, resources and succesful completion of the consortium.