In the seminar, organized by Bureau Veritas, the European Chamber of Commerce (Eurocham), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam, Vietnamese exporters were briefed on the EU chemical regulation enacted last June.

Under the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), within the six months between 1 June 2008 and 1 December 2008, Vietnamese producers and exporters to the EU must register all chemical components used in their products with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) before exporting to the European Union (EU).

The new EU chemical regulation asks about both new chemical components and components that were already being used. Vietnamese producers and exporters who fail to register would be warned or even prosecuted.

REACH targets chemicals, dyes, printing inks, textile and garments, footwear, toys, electronic and household products, cosmetics and other products.

ECHA will then monitor the chemicals for 10 years for any harmful effects on health or the environment.

The regulation also gives European consumers the right to request producers for information about product components and their effects on the environment and safety.

Producers must respond within 45 days of consumers' requests.