To protect the health of people in contact with hazardous products, we actively monitor the impact of these products on health. We identify and assess the risks of products that we use or produce, most notably within the scope of the European Union’s Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals (REACH) regulation. We also provide comprehensive information regarding our products.

Chemical substances: REACH implementation

The European Union Regulation concerning Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals (REACH) was formally adopted in 2006 and will come into force on June 1, 2007.

REACH aims to improve the protection of human health and the environment by:

• Reducing the risks associated with the manufacture, distribution, use and disposal of products.
• Improving their design and evaluation and the product information provided.

As the No. 1 refiner in Europe and a world-class chemicals manufacturer, Total is directly impacted by the new regulation, to which we have responded proactively.

REACH Implementation

Total is gearing up for the implementation of REACH, which will help to improve understanding of chemical substances and the risks their use entails. In the Chemicals business, operational departments have so far identified some 600 substances, of which 450 are in the Arkema portfolio. In 2005, the Strategic Partnership on REACH Testing (SPORT) was launched to run trials. Eight companies took part, overseen by representatives of all stakeholders to:

• Improve understanding of REACH.
• Identify solutions where problems were found.
• Produce a set of recommendations.

Once REACH is implemented, Total will work with other manufacturers to carry out joint tests and assess the hazardous properties of the substances in question. 

User Information

We provide Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) for users to make sure they are informed about the effects of all products processed, manufactured or distributed by Total. These resources are prepared by a network of experts from our HSE teams, consolidate all information on the hazards of a given product and the precautions for use, and are available on the Internet and via the intranet.

To learn more, go the Product case study