RPS will be running Training Courses for the REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals) legislation in UK, ROI and the Netherlands from 24th October 2007.

The European chemical legislation, REACH, came into force from 1st June 2007 (for more information on REACH legislation, please click here. This new regulation requires the full supply chain to communicate information about the safe use and handling of chemicals. This includes the requirement for downstream users to clearly identify intended uses and communicate these uses to the manufacturer/importer who will be responsible for the registration procedure.

REACH has several aims:

• To provide a high level of protection, for human health and the environment, from the use of chemicals.
• To allow the free movement of substances on the EU market.
• To make the people who place chemicals on the market (manufacturers and importers) responsible for understanding and managing the risks associated with their use.
• To promote the use of alternative methods for the assessment of the hazardous properties of substances.
• To enhance the innovation in, and the competitiveness of, the EU chemicals industry.

Requirements of the legislation will create significant changes in working relationships with other businesses in the supply chain, and with customers, for a chemical's use. This Training Course is designed to enable participants to develop a REACH Action Plan for their organisation. The two-day courses will cover the following areas:

• Background to REACH
• What is REACH? Content and details of this new European legislation.
• Roles and responsibilities under REACH.
• Exercises which help you develop a REACH Action Plan.
• Case study on exposure scenarios.
• Keeping your information up to date using your management system.
• REACH-ready and beyond: some additional special topics.

RPS is a multi-disciplined independent consultancy providing risk and environmental management, planning and development support. These services benefit a range of industries and businesses including inorganic/organic/fine chemical, pharmaceutical, oil and gas, nuclear, paper and pulp, waste, utilities, and wider process and manufacturing sectors.

Course Leader, Martijn van Velthoven is a Consultant Toxicologist with many years' experience in the field of chemicals management, including classification, toxicological data review and evaluation, priority setting, and review of regulatory context - including REACH. The course will be run on an interactive basis, using exercises and case studies to help participants produce an Action Plan that they can implement in their own business.

REACH Training Course venues and dates are:

• Delft (Netherlands) on 24-25 October 2007,
• Chester (UK) on 30-31 October,
• Bristol (UK) on 6-7 November,
• Dublin (Ireland) on 13-14 November,
• Cork (Ireland) on 20-21 November, and
• Galway (Ireland) on 27-28 November 2007.

To maximise course effectiveness, places are limited, so early booking is advisable. Further courses will be organised as required.

To book a place on a REACH course, and for further information, please click here.

For more information please contact:
RPS Advies, Delft, The Netherlands
T: +31 (0)1575 01616
RPS Risk Management, Warrington, UK
T: +44 (0)1925 847907
RPS Planning & Development, Dublin (West Pier), Ireland
T: +353 (0)1288 4499