‘Chemicals’ and ‘European legislation’ might not excite many readers at first glance. Nonetheless the new REACH regulation (standing for the Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of CHemicals) is significant, not just for chemical companies but for whole swathes of industry and business in Europe and beyond. The reason is the ubiquitous nature of chemicals in our modern day lives. Ultimately, almost everything – from iPods to clothes and building insulation – contains chemicals and is therefore likely to be affected by REACH.