REACH stands for Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals, a European Parliament and European Union Council regulation that was adopted on 18 December 2006 (and came into force on 1 June 2007). It brought the European legislation on chemical substances up to date and introduced a single, integrated, Europe-wide registration, evaluation and authorization system for chemical substances. Its purpose is to provide better protection for human heath and the environment whilst maintaining competitiveness and strengthening the innovative spirit of the European chemical industry. The PE polymer declarations are done by the resin manufacturers, not the extrusion companies.