C3-B : Alliance for Safety

In the European Union (EU) today there is an ever increasing need to ensure that the chemicals we manufacture and use are safe for both ourselves and the environment. To this end the EU implemented the Notification of New Substances Regulations (NONS). The aim of this directive is to ensure that any new substance being marketed within the EU has sufficient information for physico-chemical, toxicological and eco-toxicological properties to ensure the safe usage of the product. The regulations implement part of an EC Directive, commonly known as the Seventh Amendment Directive (92/32/EEC). Any substance that has passed through the notification process, in one or more of the EC states, is then added to the European List of Notified (New) Chemical Substances (ELINCS).

Many substances however, were already being sold within the EC before (NONS) was introduced and these were found on the European Inventory of Existing Commercial Chemical Substances (EINECS). As many of these chemicals had very little safety data, especially with respect to environmental effects, the EU has decided to introduce new legislation called the Registration, Evaluation Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH). The purpose of REACH is to increase the amount of safety information available for all chemicals to ensure their safe use and manufacture within the EU.

Anticipating the need to obtain these data C3-B was formed to provide an easy to use, cost-effective specialist service of the highest calibre.

The purpose of the physico-chemical data is to ensure that no physical or chemical activity could take place that may endanger human life. The tests are divided into 4 specific areas of interest, starting with basic, physical characteristics such as Melting Point, Boiling Point, Relative Density, Vapour Pressure and Surface Tension.

One of the most important properties to be considered when assessing the potential hazards of a material is the toxicological effect that it may have on
the human body. C3-B can look into this effect and provide suitable data necessary to ensure that exposure to a material does not result in detrimental
health effects.

In today’s world we have become much more aware of the damage that can
be done to the environment due to the release of chemicals into the air or
water courses. Therefore, it is necessary to obtain suitable information on
the potential to damage the environment as soon as is possible. C3-B can
look into the potential for environmental hazard by performing suitably
selected laboratory tests that can determine how a chemical behaves in the
environment.

If a substance is newly manufactured or imported into the EU then all the information has to be entered into a dossier for submission to a Competent Authority (CA). Along with the paperwork it is often necessary to discuss
with the CA any findings from the assessments and whether it is anticipated
that further testing may be required.