Polymers Requiring Registration (PRR)

Polymers are currently exempted from registration under Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH). However, Article 138(2) foresees a possible further review to extend the registration requirements to polymers. If the risk posed by certain polymers can be proven, and practical and cost-efficient ways of selecting polymers requiring registration (PRR) can be established, registration requirements under REACH will be extended to polymers.

To comply with that mandate, the European Commission is working to identify polymers requiring registration, proposing grouping criteria, defining the registration process and assessing the costs/benefits of polymers registration. The use of polymers within the adhesives and sealants industry is very widespread. In general terms, polymers are the chemicals which enable adhesives and sealants to work.

FEICA therefore supports the efforts of the European Commission to develop a comprehensive regulatory framework for the registration of polymers under the REACH Regulation that will help to protect human health and the environment, without losing the competitiveness and innovativeness of the European industry.

The FEICA Polymer’s Technical Task Force (Polymers TTF) actively contributes to the discussion and regularly publishes position papers that include illustrating the peculiarities of the adhesives and sealants industry as well as contributing technical data to the global discussion.

FEICA positions on the registration of polymers

On Wednesday 23 June 2021, FEICA organised a webinar on the upcoming registration of polymers and published the presentation. 

FEICA also published a presentation explaining the difference between polymeric precursors and intermediates, and the benefits of a full exemption for polymeric precursors. It is also on YouTube.

FEICA leaflet on Notification of Polymers - in 7 languages: