Merck KGaA has completed the pre-registration of all REACH-relevant chemical substances for the entire Merck Group, thus securing the marketability of all products for its customers. Overall, Merck has pre-registered over thousand chemical substances with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). This includes all REACH-relevant chemicals supplied by Merck subsidiaries. In addition, the company has checked whether substances from its suppliers also meet the requirements of REACH. Legal compliance is thus established for both Merck and its customers.

"We have decided to document and register all products concerned and not to modify our product range as a result of the REACH Regulation. REACH will therefore form a new platform from which Merck can intensify its cooperation with customers," said Dr Bernd Reckmann, member of the Executive Board of Merck KGaA.

The deadline for pre-registration expires on December 1, 2008.