The University of Hull has launched Europe's first accredited Postgraduate course for those responsible for managing their organisation's compliance with the new REACH legislation, expected to affect thousands of British businesses.

The Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH) legislation comes into force on 1 June 2007. The all-embracing legislation will replace the existing 40 EU directives on the control of chemicals under a single unified system, and their use will have to be registered with a technical dossier. Some substances will also require a chemical safety report and assessment.

REACH will have an impact on not only chemical manufacturers, but also chemical users, distributors and importers across the whole of the European Union. Even businesses assembling products from component parts will need to understand how REACH could affect them, as chemicals are likely to exist in many of the components or processes they use.

The Postgraduate Certificate in REACH Management has been developed specifically for those needing to implement the regulations within the workplace and will be delivered as a taught modular course, enabling delegates to attend the full course, or if they prefer, individual modules or individual days. The full course comprises four, one-week modules plus an industrial placement (which may be carried out in the delegate's own workplace). Only those completing the full course will receive the Postgraduat Certificate.

The Postgraduate Certificate in REACH Management is being run by the Environmental Technologies Centre of Industrial Collaboration (ETCIC) and the Faculty of Science based at the University of Hull, and is supported by the Regional Development Agency, Yorkshire Forward.

Registrations are now being taken for the first full course, which will start in Hull on Monday 4 June 2007, just after the REACH legislation comes into force. The taught modules will be delivered by leading experts in the various disciplines encompassed by the new legislation.

The taught modules are:

• Module 1 – Regulatory and Project Management
• Module 2 – Testing and Data Analysis for Hazard Assessment
• Module 3 – Exposure and Environmental Risk Assessment
• Module 4 – Legal Commercial and Socio-Economic Elements of Reach

Professor Gillian Greenway of the University of Hull is Academic Director of the new Postgraduate Certificate. It has been developed by Dr David Calvert of ETCIC (Environmental Technologies Centre of Industrial Collaboration) with support from Yorkshire Chemical Focus and Humber Chemical Focus, also supported by Yorkshire Forward, LGC, and REACHReady.

Dr David Calvert says, "REACH will affect almost every manufacturing and chemical process and is probably the most wide-ranging legislation ever to come into force affecting the management of chemicals. Organisations that don't comply with REACH simply won't be able to function within the supply chain because REACH requires organisations to work together to ensure safe chemical handling".

Jim Farmery, Head of Innovation at Yorkshire Forward adds, "To ensure their own future competitiveness, it is vital that chemicals companies across the region are aware of the requirements of REACH legislation. The partnership working between industry-focused organisations like the ETCIC, YCF and HCF on this course will ensure that companies can achieve this through a relevant, business-focused programme".

Course costs per delegate for the Postgraduate Certificate range from £300 for one day to £4,000 for the full course. All prices are exclusive of VAT.

Those interested in enrolling on the course should email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 01482 466 940.

The University of Hull has also launched the REACH Blog for those interested in keeping abreast of developments with the legislation.