EU REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation of Chemicals)

EU framework for registration, evaluation, and restriction of chemical substances to protect health and environment.

In force since 2007, REACH is the EU's comprehensive regulation governing the registration, evaluation, authorisation, and restriction of chemical substances. Managed by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) in Helsinki, REACH shifted the burden of proof from public authorities to industry, requiring companies that manufacture or import chemical substances to demonstrate that those substances can be used safely. The regulation covers all chemical substances, whether used in industrial processes, consumer products, or articles, making it one of the most far-reaching chemicals regulations in the world.

REACH directly affects manufacturers and importers of chemical substances in quantities of one tonne or more per year, as well as producers and importers of articles containing substances intended for release or substances of very high concern (SVHCs) above specified thresholds. Downstream users -- companies that use chemicals in their industrial or professional activities -- also have obligations to ensure safe use and to communicate information up and down the supply chain. In total, tens of thousands of substances have been registered under REACH, and compliance affects virtually every sector of the European economy, from automotive and electronics to textiles, construction, and agriculture.

Core obligations begin with registration: manufacturers and importers must submit detailed technical dossiers to ECHA containing data on the properties, hazards, and safe use conditions of their substances. Substances of very high concern, such as carcinogens, persistent organic pollutants, and endocrine disruptors, are placed on the ECHA Candidate List and may be subject to authorisation requirements, meaning companies must obtain specific permission to continue using them and demonstrate that no suitable alternatives exist or that the socio-economic benefits outweigh the risks. Restrictions can prohibit or limit the manufacture, placing on the market, or use of substances that pose unacceptable risks.

REACH is a living regulation that is continuously updated as scientific knowledge evolves. ECHA regularly adds substances to the Candidate List and the Authorisation List, and the Commission adopts new restrictions based on risk assessments. The ongoing REACH revision process, initiated in 2022 under the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, aims to further strengthen the regulation by extending registration requirements, simplifying authorisation, and introducing a mixture assessment factor.

REACH interacts with the RoHS Directive, which restricts specific hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment, and with the General Product Safety Regulation, which requires that products placed on the EU market are safe. For businesses, REACH compliance is a continuous obligation that requires substance tracking, supply chain communication, and regulatory monitoring to ensure that their products and processes remain compliant as the regulatory landscape evolves.

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