DDS Logistics has upgraded the sourcing and referencing modules of DDS Shipper with new functions, allowing importers who use it to track chemical substances as required by REACH regulations, now in force in the European Community.

Quick reminder

The new REACH regulation (for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of CHemical substances) requires that companies dealing in chemical substances in Europe (both producers and importers) evaluate and register some 30,000 chemical substances that could be harmful to human health and the environment.

Since one of the principles behind REACH is to make manufacturers (or importers) responsible for proving that a chemical substance can be used safely, companies will have to register substances and provide information about their characteristics and uses. Manufacturers also have an absolute obligation to obtain information from their customers on how substances are used, and then evaluate the possible dangers to health and the environment. REACH does not only concern the chemical industry but also metallurgy, surface coatings, fast-moving consumer goods, microelectronics, paints, maintenance, garages and so on. Chemistry is everywhere!
REACH came into force on 1 June 2007 for the declaration or pre-registering phase of substances concerned, which must be completed by December 2008.

The earliest registration deadlines are for substances produced or imported in quantities of 1,000 tonnes or more per year and Carcinogenic, Mutagenic and Reprotoxic substances (CMRs) of one tonne or more. All these substances must be registered within three years from REACH coming into force. Substances produced or imported in quantities between 100 and 1,000 tonnes per year must be registered within 6 years and low-tonnage substances (between 1 and 100 tonnes per year) within 11 years.

Functions of the REACH modules in DDS Logistics
To help users comply with the new REACH regulations, DDS Logistics has added new functions to the ‘Sourcing’ and ‘Reference’ modules of DDS Shipper:

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a capability for managing a library of substances,
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substances can be categorised immediately on selection of goods for purchase in the Sourcing module,
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full referencing of substances in the entry for each product managed in the Collection module,
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an ‘instrument panel’ for an overview of volumes and weights of substances as a function of quantities purchased.

DDS Shipper can handle declarations for substances falling under the scope of REACH:

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either directly by the suppliers, via the application’s Web portal,
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or by the importer or purchasing syndicate’s own staff.

The system can manage two standards

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• CAS (a global standard with tens of thousands of records) which is the most common, with a unique numerical identifier managed by the database of the Chemical Abstracts Service.
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the EC Inventory (a European standard with fewer records), not so well known by suppliers but that it is necessary to be able to use.

Using the modules

When a supplier has chemical goods to sell, it connects directly to the DDS Shipper Web platform and registers all chemical substances concerned by REACH. Declaration to the European authorities is dealt with according to the tonnage sold, using the IUCLID5 application (International Uniform Chemical Information Database).

DDS Shipper’s new REACH functions are already being used by Carrefour and Conforama.