8.2.4 Communication in the supply chain

A duty to communicate information regarding safety, health and environmental properties related to chemical substances in products, and risk management measures,1down the supply chain is an essential part of REACH. Manufacturers and importers are required to exchange information on how the chemicals can be used in a safe way, both for humans and the environment. They have to prepare a ' Safety Data Sheet' (SDS), to which the exposure scenarios have been annexed.2 In the opposite direction, new information on hazardous properties and information that may challenge the quality of the risk management measures contained in the relevant SDS have to be passed up the supply chain by downstream-users.3It is intended that information be passed as follows:

manufacturer/importer <--> downstream user <--> distributer <--> consumer.

It is believed that in the longer term "intensive communication in the supply chain in two directions will provide better understanding of the needs of other parties in the supply chain."4 Consumers are not entitled to receive SDSs, but they can request information about certain dangerous substances from the producers and retailers. This will be discussed in section 8.3. For a general overview of obligations under REACH, see Annex 8.1, in fine.