Substances exempt from REACH
Some substances are exempted from REACH altogether: radioactive substances, wastes, substances under customs supervision and, substances necessary for the interests of defence.
If chemical substances used to manufacture other chemical substances are never separated from the mixture of other chemicals inside a closed system, they are fully exempt from REACH (non-isolated intermediates). Intermediates that are separated out during the production process (isolated intermediates) will have to be registered, but with simplified information requirements commensurate with their lower risk.
Substances Exempted from Registration and Evaluation
Some substances are exempted from Registration: substances occurring in nature such as minerals, ores and or concentrates, cement clinker, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, natural gas condensate, process gases and components thereof, crude oil, coal and coke are also not required to be registered as long as they are not chemically modified.
In addition, a number of basic substances for which the hazards and risks are well known are also exempted: hydrogen, oxygen, several noble gases (argon, helium, neon, xenon), and nitrogen.
There are also exemptions from large parts of REACH for substances in food, medicinal products, plant protection because those are regulated in specific legislation.
Polymers are for the time being also exempted from registration and evaluation. However, monomers must be registered.
Nanomaterials are included in the scope of REACH, therefore substances should be registered, authorised etc.
