1. What is REACH?The Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, commonly referred to as "REACH", is the EU and European Economic Area (EEA) countries’ new chemicals legislation. REACH does not initially introduce any new substance restrictions but sets up a single regulatory framework for gathering and assessing information on properties and risks linked to the application of chemicals and, if required, potentially restricting chemicals of most concern. Specifically, REACH entails registering nearly 30,000 chemicals over 11 years, and evaluating and authorizing or phasing out the most harmful chemicals in favor of viable safer alternatives. 2. Why should I be concerned about the REACH Regulation?If you are a company that ships product or chemical substances into the EEA or you have other operations in the EEA, then you need to be aware of the REACH Regulations and determine if/how you will be affected by them. You should seek your own legal advice on how REACH affects your operations. 3. What is Cisco's position regarding this regulation?Cisco is committed to meeting the requirements of all applicable laws and regulations, including the REACH Regulation. Our REACH position can also be found on our Web site, at: www.cisco.com/go/reach 4. What is Cisco's strategy for REACH compliance?Cisco has a comprehensive REACH compliance program in place to ensure all applicable obligations are met within the specified timeframes. Additionally, Cisco is working with electronics industry peers to drive a common regulatory and industry approach to REACH compliance. 5. How is Cisco dealing with REACH’s Article 33 obligation to communicate information on Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) identified in the initial “Candidate List” in products?Cisco has been working proactively with its upstream supply chain and industry research workgroups to determine SVHCs applications in products, and provide recipients of Cisco products with relevant information as mandated by the REACH Regulation. Cisco’s REACH Article 33 declaration on SVHCs (identified in the European Chemicals Agency’s ‘ECHA’ initial candidate list published on October 28th, 2008) in Cisco products is available on our Web site, at: www.cisco.com/go/reach. In addition, Cisco is managing Article 33 obligations by providing information to recipients of Cisco products in product shipment documentation every time products are being made available for distribution or use within the EEA. Cisco will continue working closely with suppliers and industry peers and update its REACH Article 33 declaration should any changes occur or new relevant substances be added to the candidate list. Information will also be provided to consumers upon request. Our REACH team closely monitors the status of the candidate list and related developments as part of our on-going compliance program. 6. How is Cisco impacted by REACH (pre-)registration obligations?Cisco does currently neither manufacture nor import any chemical substances into the EEA on their own or in preparations in quantities of 1 tonne or more per year. In addition, Cisco’s EEA-produced and imported articles do not contain chemical substances intended to be released during the normal and reasonably foreseeable conditions of the product’s use as defined by the REACH Regulation and existing guidance. Therefore, Cisco did and does not currently have a direct REACH obligation to pre-register and potentially register substances, but has been closely working with EEA-based suppliers to ensure they are in compliance with REACH pre-registration obligations directly or via an actor within their supply chain (i.e. that relevant substances in Cisco’s EEA-produced articles or used in the manufacture of Cisco products were pre-registered before December 1, 2008). Cisco continues working with its upstream supply chain to ensure that those substances and suppliers and Cisco’s uses will be registered within the specified timeframes, and properly assessed during registration, by suppliers or an actor further up their supply chain. Cisco will continue seeking guarantees that suppliers comply with all relevant REACH requirements and ensure continued supplies to secure own operations and protect business relations. 7. Will you discontinue/change any products as a result of REACH?Cisco does not plan to discontinue or change any product as a result of meeting the requirements of the REACH Regulation. Products will be discontinued or changed via Cisco’s standard product lifecycle processes. 8. Where can I get more information on Cisco’s REACH program?For more information on Cisco's REACH program, please refer to Cisco’s REACH Web site, at: www.cisco.com/go/reach. We encourage you to visit the site regularly for up-to-date information. Alternatively, please submit your request to: environment@cisco.com 9. Where can I get official information on REACH processes and developments?European Chemicals Agency’s (ECHA) Website |
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