Managing chemicals under REACH 'hybridity': Progress and problems in the implementation process

The Regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) is the most important piece of European Union legislation for the management of chemicals. It is characterized by a hybrid nature, as it combines traditional and new governance approaches. This article reviews REACH hybrid features and analyses how they are affecting the implementation process. It concludes that the search for increased flexibility and participation within a traditional form of governance has contributed, through a learning process, to managing REACH complexity and developing practical solutions to improve implementation. However, it also causes uncertainty and inefficiency, especially when flexibility masks substantial problems that have been postponed by decision makers to the implementation phase.