The European Commission would like to extend the scope of application of the Generic Approach to Risk Management, a move that will have significant impacts on professional users of adhesives and sealants. 

Sustainable development is of great significance in the construction industry as architects and green procurement bodies are increasingly demanding products that meet international sustainability standards. 

A new restriction on diisocyanates adopted by the European authorities under REACH on August 4, 2020, specifies the need for training and labelling requirements for industrial or professional users of diisocyanates with a monomeric concentration greater than 0.1 % by weight.

The European Commission’s Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability (CSS) could fundamentally change the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulation by extending the application of the generic approach to risk management to professional uses and new hazard classes. This extension of the generic approach to cover not only consumers but also professional workers, including those in the construction sector, will have a significant impact.

At present, polymers do not have to be registered under Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and the Council on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH).  Nevertheless, a possible change in the treatment of polymers is envisioned in Article 138(2) of REACH, which may result in polymers being included in the registration requirements.