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3M and the Environment
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REACH stands for Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals. It is a proposal for a major change in how existing and new chemicals will be regulated in the European Union. Since the initial proposal of a complex REACH regulation in 2003 by the European Commission, the REACH regulation has been under further review and revisions in the EU Parliament and the European Council. The purpose of REACH is to increase knowledge about the high volume chemical substances marketed in the EU, to determine what their commercial uses are, and to ensure that they are properly managed.

REACH will govern the placing on the market of substances that are manufactured or imported into the EU, as a neat chemical substance, as part of a preparation, or as a component of articles. Chemical substances will have to be registered with EU authorities, for all of their intended product uses. A European Chemicals Agency will be created to manage the technical, scientific and administrative aspects and to ensure consistency of decision making at Community level.

3M has been monitoring the progress of the REACH legislation for several years because we expected the regulation might have a significant impact on companies that make or sell products in Europe. Our company has developed an action plan to meet the requirements and timetables included in the REACH regulation with minimal product disruption.

The regulation enters into force on June 1, 2007, although most specific regulatory components are delayed until June 2008. As a matter of policy, 3M supports and promotes the goals of life cycle management, product safety, sustainable development, and effective risk communication to employees and customers.

We expect further details of REACH to be clarified when the REACH Technical Guidance Documents are finalized. At that point, 3M will have a better understanding on the impacts on our raw materials, products and supply chain. Therefore, 3M will continue to monitor the development of these documents and include any additionally identified activities to be compliant in its action plan.