Brussels, Belgium, 8 April 2010

The Nickel Institute today announced the successful REACH registration of nickel metal and nickel sulphate, eight months before the registration deadline.

The two extremely large dossiers, that include a host of references and chemical safety reports for both nickel metal and nickel sulphate, were successfully submitted to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) at the end of March 2010, well before the deadline of 1 December 2010.

Stephen Barnett, President of the Nickel Institute, commented: “The early registration of nickel metal and nickel sulphate under REACH represents a major achievement for the Nickel Consortia of producers, importers and downstream users, the lead registrants and the entire nickel industry. It was made possible by the dedicated teamwork of all participants and by the technical and strategic support received from the ECHA during the registration process.”

Although achieving early registration was challenging, since, under REACH, a great deal of time-consuming communication and interaction was required with member companies such as nickel producers and importers, and downstream users such as the stainless steel, alloy, plating and catalyst industries, the Nickel Institute reports that early registration has been a worthwhile, and educative, experience for all contributors to the process.

The registrants noted that the recently-updated IUCLID 5.2 software was easier to use to submit data to the ECHA than the previous version, and found the REACH-IT system equally user-friendly in effecting the registration.

This successful early registration means that companies interested in participating in joint submission of data on a substance they wish to be registered are invited to contact the Nickel REACH Consortia at reach@nickelinstitute.org, or visit its website at www.nickelconsortia.org.

The Nickel Institute is a non-profit organization that represents the interests of the companies that together produce more than 90% of global annual nickel output. The Institute was established in 2004, through the merger of the Nickel Development Institute (NiDI), the Nickel Producers Environmental Research Association (NiPERA) and the European Nickel Group (ENiG). Website: www.nickelinstitute.org

The Nickel Consortia was set up by the Nickel Institute to help companies with their obligations under REACH registration. Website: www.nickelconsortia.org

REACH is the European Union (EU) Regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals that came into force on 1st June 2007. It aims to protect human health and the environment from the use of chemicals.

For further information please contact Steve Barnett, Nickel Institute President, on sbarnett@nickelinstitute.org  or telephone: +32 22903210.