Retailers face product suspension under new EU rules

Retailers face having their products suspended because they are unaware of European Union legislation coming into force at the end of this month.

All EU firms making or importing chemicals or products enhanced by them must "pre-register" the substances by 30 November. Goods range from stonewashed jeans to paint.

The British Retail Consortium issued emergency guidance for small and medium-sized retailers on the pre-registering process last month. "We were concerned SMEs weren't aware of Reach [Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals]," said Edward Cooke, BRC policy adviser.

Should firms fail to pre-register, they could see their products pulled off the shelves. Any chemical would then have to undergo a more onerous, expensive full registration process. David Symonds of WSP Environment & Energy warned: "Reach ... isn't just for products like weedkillers – it could be shampoo and shoe polish."

Steve Elliott, head of the Chemical Industries Association, warned retailers that Reach's "mantra is: no data, no market". He also believes Reach's IT system could crash as there is evidence it has already failed to cope with pre-registration requests.