Info letter 1, 11 May 2007 - Kuraray Europe GmbH

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Dear Sir or Madam:
K u r a r a y Eu r o p e Gm b H
Industriepark Höchst, 65929 Frankfurt am Main, Germany, Telefon +49 69 305 85 300, Fax +49 69 305 85399, Ust-ID-Nr.: DE 121 301 301, St.-Nr. 103/5742/0227
Geschäftsführer: Dr. Gerd Lepper (Vorsitz), Nobuo Fujii, Kenzo Sawada, Sitz der Gesellschaft: Frankfurt am Main, Amtsgericht Frankfurt am Main HRB 78119
Dresdner Bank AG, Frankfurt am Main, BLZ: 500 800 00, Konto-Nr. 770 339 900, SWIFT: DRESDEFF, IBAN: DE21 5008 0000 0770 3399 00
Mizuho Corporate Bank Ltd., Düsseldorf, BLZ: 300 207 00, Konto-Nr. 3087 1330 06, SWIFT: MHCBDEDD, IBAN: DE18 3002 0700 3087 1330 06 (EUR)
Mizuho Corporate Bank Ltd., Düsseldorf, BLZ: 300 207 00, Konto-Nr. 3087 1330 22, SWIFT: MHCBDEDD, IBAN: DE18 3002 0700 3087 1330 22 (JPY)
Mizuho Corporate Bank Ltd., Düsseldorf, BLZ: 300 207 00, Konto-Nr. 3087 1330 14, SWIFT: MHCBDEDD, IBAN: DE18 3002 0700 3087 1330 14 (USD)
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ESHA and Quality Management
phone: +49 69 305 14453
fax: +49 69 305 89158
e-mail: martin.baumgartner@kuraray.eu
Frankfurt am Main, den 11.05.2007
The REACH regulation adopted by the European Union in December 2006 enters into force on
June 1, 2007. The aim of the new European legislation is to provide a high degree of protection of
human health and the environment. With the new regulations, manufacturers and importers of
chemicals must assume responsibility for safe handling of their substances
REACH applies to all chemical substances of which at least one ton is produced in or imported to
the EU. In the future, such substances will have to be registered with a chemicals agency to be
established in Helsinki. The larger the amount of the substance in circulation, the more properties
of the substance have to be ascertained, particularly with regard to effects on people and the
environment. For substances which are already produced in or imported to the EU, there are
transitional periods for registration, provided that the substances are pre-registered with the
European Chemicals Agency by December 1, 2008. The transitional periods end at different times
depending on the amount and the hazardous substance properties, for example on December 1,
2010 (> 1000 t/a), on June 1, 2012 (> 100 t/a) or on June 1 2018 (> 1 t/a).
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Kuraray Europe GmbH’s task is to see to it that its raw materials suppliers register their products
so that these products will continue to be available for the production process. With imported

polymers, the monomers they contain have to be registered. On account of the economic
importance of the substances we use and the good data situation that already exists, we expect no
difficulties here.
With copolymers (which are therefore polymers) consisting of more than one monomer, the
percentage of the corresponding monomers determines whether they have to be registered or not.
Comonomers which contain at least 2 mass percent and of which a volume of at least 1 t/a is in
circulation have to be registered. %XW IRU WKLV SURGXFW JURXS WRR WKH FRSRO\PHUV LWVHOI
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Here, too, the task of Kuraray Europe GmbH is to ensure that the comonomers in question are
registered if necessary.
Products consisting of various substances (mixtures or solutions) are defined by REACH as
SUHSDUDWLRQV 3UHSDUDWLRQV DV VXFK FDQQRW EH UHJLVWHUHG RQO\ WKH LQGLYLGXDO VXEVWDQFHV WKH\
FRQWDLQ In this case, too, at least 1 t/a of the substances have to be in circulation to require
registration.
Some 0RZLIOH[ products from the PVA/PVB division fall into the preparation category. At
present, no further remarks can be made on these products because first the compositions have to
be checked.
As a manufacturer, importer and downstream user, Kuraray Europe GmbH is aware of its
obligations resulting from the new REACH legislation. We have started taking the necessary
steps. The remarks made above reflect our level of knowledge today. We assume that the
consequences of REACH will not have a big influence on our product portfolio. Where necessary,
we will carry pre-registrations by December 1, 2008. The earliest final deadline for the actual
registration is 'HFHPEHU 7KXV ZH GR QRW H[SHFW 5($&+ WR KDYH D GLUHFW LQIOXHQFH
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The REACH regulation is very detailed and complex, and the authorities responsible are still
working intensely on the regulatory statutes. Please have understanding, therefore, if at present we
are not able to give detailed answers or to fill out questionnaires.
Should the REACH procedure prove to have repercussions for our product portfolio, we will
inform all of affected customers at an early stage.
We are convinced that Kuraray’s many years of commitment to the principles of Responsible Care
and thus to environmentally friendly product policy will pay off and that we will remain a reliable
partner even in the age of REACH.
Yours sincerely,
KURARAY EUROPE GmbH
ppa. B. Frischbier i.V. Dr. Baumgartner
(Division PVA/PVB Marketing ) (ESHA and Quality Manager)
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