EC 1907/2006, Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH) is a European Union regulation concerning chemicals and their safe uses. REACH is designed to protect human health and the environment by identifying the properties of chemicals before they are used commercially. REACH is a single system that replaced approximately 40 other European Directives and Regulations. The legistlation took effect June 1, 2007, with phase-in of various compenents continuing through June 1, 2009 and beyond.