Pre-registration is first main step in Solvay’s commitment to fulfill REACH obligations for its products

Solvay announces today that it has, in accordance with the European REACH Regulation on Chemicals (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals), successfully completed the pre-registration at the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). Pre-registration phase closed on December 1st at 24:00 GMT. The Solvay group has successfully pre-registered 666 dossiers representing a total of 400 substances. By doing so, Solvay has given notice that it will register the substances before the end of the transitional period, which expires in 2010, 2013 or 2018 depending on the nature of the substances and the quantities involved.

“Given the huge amount of data exchange needed to prepare those files and the important traffic on the REACH-IT platform of the European Chemicals Agency, it was quite a challenge to submit all dossiers in due time. We managed it efficiently thanks to the positive and helpful collaboration of everyone involved. The next steps will be the registration and authorization processes with the objective to ensure supply and compliance continuity of our products”, said Christine Defourny, REACH project manager at Solvay.

Solvay fully supports the main objective of the REACH Regulation, which is to bring a higher level of protection of human health and the environment by encouraging a better knowledge sharing about the chemical substances and their applications. The Group is committed to fulfill REACH obligations for all its products and their applications through its activities of production, importation, marketing and use according to the REACH timeline. In order to inform its clients and suppliers, Solvay is publishing information about its pre-registered substances on its website. For more information on Solvay and REACH, please refer to the Solvay website.

SOLVAY is an international chemical and pharmaceutical Group with headquarters in Brussels. It employs more than 28,000 people in 50 countries. In 2007, its consolidated sales amounted to EUR 9.6 billion, generated by its three sectors of activity: Chemicals, Plastics and Pharmaceuticals. Solvay (NYSE Euronext: SOLB.BE - Bloomberg: SOLB.BB - Reuters: SOLBt.BR) is listed on the NYSE Euronext stock exchange in Brussels. Details are available at www.solvay.com.

For further information please contact :

Patrick Verelst , Head of Investor Relations
SOLVAY SA
Tel: 32 2 509 72 43
Fax: 32 2 509 72 40
E-mail : patrick.verelst@solvay.com

Erik De Leye , Corporate Press Officer
SOLVAY SA
Tel: 32 2 509 72 30
Fax: 32 2 509 72 40
E-mail : erik.deleye@solvay.com