Interaction of the EU Chemicals Regulation-REACH-with Occupational Safety and Health Legislation: A Report from the 5th German REACH Congress

In April 2021, the 5th German REACH Congress took place as a hybrid event with a focus on discussing interlinkages between REACH and the occupational safety and health (OSH) legislation. More than 1000 people from Germany, the EU, and non-EU countries representing all stakeholder groups participated via livestream. Around 10% of the participants provided their opinions on various issues in an online survey. The presentations and discussions, as well as the results of the online survey, show that the stakeholders perceive a positive effect of REACH on the implementation of OSH, in particular via the information made available through the registration and communication in the supply chain, and the restrictions and authorization procedures. The integration of OSH and REACH expertise in the regulatory processes, as well as transparency and clarity about the selection of regulatory instruments to manage workplace risks, were highlighted as areas for potential improvement. Overall, it was concluded that the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability would further improve the interplay of legislation, which would also benefit the level of safety and health at workplaces.