The major European manufacturers of sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) have joined efforts for their REACH compliance activities and have launched the sodium hydroxide REACH consortium end of February 2009, following one year of preparatory work.

Consortium activities
The members of the Sodium Hydroxide consortium have agreed to cooperate, under the leadership of Solvay-Electrolyse-France SAS, in the preparation of a joint registration dossier for sodium hydroxide. The dossier will include information on harmonised classification and labelling of the substance. However, the substance is already listed in Annex VI of the Regulation on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures (Regulation 1272/2008).

Substance
The following substance is covered by the Sodium Hydroxide consortium and will be registered under REACH by December 2010:

EU Risk Assessment
A lot of pre-work has already been done, based on the EU risk assessment which was finalised and agreed under the existing substances regulation (Council Regulation 793/93). A comprehensive risk assessment report has been published in 2007 and is available on the ECB website. The report will be used as basis for the joint REACH registration dossier of sodium hydroxide.

Uses and exposure scenarios
Based on the available information the members of the REACH consortium have made an inventory of the uses of sodium hydroxide. Furthermore, exposure scenarios and risk reduction measures have been proposed. Sodium Hydroxide SIEF documents available for download here.

Membership
The sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) REACH consortium structure includes a Steering Committee and a Technical Committee. ReachCentrum will act as secretariat for the consortium. The consortium is open to manufacturers, importers and only representatives as defined in the regulation.

Current members of the Sodium Hydroxide consortium
Akzo Nobel Industrial Chemicals B.V.
Anwil SA
Arkema France
Arkema QVC
BASF SE
Basic Chemical Solutions
Bayer MaterialScience AG
Bochemie a.s.
Borregaard Industries Ltd
BorsodChem Zrt
CABB GmbH
CABB AG
CUF - Quimicos Industriais SA
DniproAzot Trade Sro
Donau Chemie AG
Dow Deutschland Anlagengesellschaft mbH
Electroquimica de Hernani SA
Ercros Industrial SA
Evonik Degussa GmbH
Hellenic Petroleum
Ineos Chlor Limited
Kaustik Europe - AOA
Kaustik Europe - JSC
Kemira Oyj
KIST Europe
Koppers Lambson
LTS-REACH-OR
Micro-Bio (Ireland) Ltd
Novacke Chemické Zavody A/S
Oltchim SA
Perstrop France SAS
PCC Rokita SA
Polimeri PLC
Produits Chimique d'Harbonnières
Quimica del Cinca SA
Reach Global Services Europe
SC Chimcomplex SA Borzesti
Solvay Electrolyse France SAS
Spolek pro chemickou a hutni vyrobu, a.s. (Spolchemie)
Syndial SpA
Tessenderlo Chemie NV
Uralchem Assist GmbH
Vestolit GmbH & Co. KG
Vinnolit GmbH & Co. KG
Wacker Chemie Ag
Zachem

Interesting links
Euro Chlor
Sodium Hydroxide SIEF documents available for download here.