REACH foresees access for the public to information related to substances to which he may be exposed. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) website allow free access to non confidential information held in the ECHA's database, including hazardous properties, classification and labelling, authorised uses and risk management measures.

Information held by the ECHA

The ECHA database centralises information submitted for registration, authorisation and restriction purposes. Besides, the Regulation (CE) No 1272/2008 foresees that a classification and labelling inventory is established and maintained by the ECHA. Within the framework of the notification of the classification and labelling of the substances required by the same regulation, any manufacturer, producer of articles or importer shall notify to the ECHA the following information, unless already submitted as part of a registration dossier:

• the identity(ies) of the manufacturer(s), producer(s) of articles or importer(s) responsible for placing the substance(s) on the market;
• the identity of the substance(s);
• the hazard classification of the substance(s);
• the hazard label for the substance(s);
• specific concentration limits, when required.

The Agency shall record whether, in respect of the entry, there is a harmonised classification and labelling at Community level.

Information available by electronic public access

The following information on substances whether on their own, in mixtures or in articles, are made publicly available, free of charge, over the ECHA website:

• the name(s) of the substance, except for some substances for which a confidentiality request has been submitted;
• the classification and labelling of the substance;
• physicochemical data concerning the substance and data on pathways and environmental fate;
• the result of each toxicological and ecotoxicological study;
• any derived no-effect level (DNEL)1 or predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC)2;
• the guidance on safe use;
• analytical methods if requested in accordance with annexes IX or X of REACH which make it possible to detect a dangerous substance when discharged into the environment as well as to determine the direct exposure of humans.

Unless a confidentiality request by the actor submitting data is considered justified, the following information shall also be made available:

• if essential to classification and labelling, the degree of purity of the substance and the identity of impurities and/or additives which are known to be dangerous;
• the total tonnage band within which a particular substance has been registered;
• the study summaries3 or robust study summaries4;
• additional information provided in the safety data sheet completing freely-accessible information;
• the trade name(s) of the substance.

1. DNEL: the level of exposure to the substance above which a human group should not be exposed.
2. PNEC: the concentration of the substance below which adverse effects in the environmental sphere of concern are not expected to occur.
3. Study summary: means a summary of the objectives, methods, results and conclusions of a full study report providing sufficient information to make an assessment of the relevance of the study.
4. Robust study summary: means a detailed study summary3 providing sufficient information to make an independent assessment of the study minimising the need to consult the full study report.