Chemical shipment halted in Belgium

Make sure that all your substances and preparations imported into the EU are accompanied by their REACH pre-registration number and REACH compliant Safety Data Sheets as a shipment from the USA has been blocked from entering Belgium.   Customs officials demanded evidence of the shipment being pre-registered under REACH. The concerned company’s Only Representative was able to produce proof of REACH compliance the next morning so that the shipment could continue while the paperwork was dealt with. Thanks to the Only Representative the shipment was not delayed for more than a matter of hours.   Although REACH allows six months from the date of import or first manufacture for companies to submit late pre-registrations or for Only Representatives to add new downstream users, in reality companies may need to achieve this much faster as enforcement authorities and customers may demand evidence of pre-registration. Non-compliance with REACH requirements can result in heavy fines and in some cases even in imprisonment.   According to the Dutch Ministry of Environment (VROM), also enforcement authorities in the Netherlands are seeking evidence of pre-registration for imports and checking the compliance of Safety Data Sheets. Absence of this information could prevent clearance of customs documentation.