Dating back nearly 20 years, the EU’s REACH is one of the world’s most stringent environmental regulatory frameworks.
REACH affects many types of chemicals and the companies that make or use them.
This article gives a quick and easy explanation of REACH and why REACH testing is important.
Table of Contents
What Are REACH Compounds?
REACH stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals. REACH compounds are chemicals that fall under this EU law. The goal of REACH is to keep people and the environment safe from dangerous chemicals.
If a company makes or brings chemicals into the EU, it must assess the risks of those substances. They also have to register them with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).
REACH applies to all substances made or imported at more than 1 tonne per year. If the amount is over 10 tonnes, a special safety report must also be completed.
How REACH Works
REACH helps protect human health and the environment by limiting the use of harmful chemicals. It does this by organising chemicals into three main categories:
1. Candidate List (Substances of Very High Concern – SVHC): This list includes chemicals that may be very harmful. They might cause cancer, affect reproduction, or stay in the environment for a long time. Being on this list is the first step before a chemical can be banned or restricted.
2. Authorisation List (Annex XIV): This list includes chemicals from the Candidate List that need special permission to be used. A company must apply to continue using these chemicals. Permission is only given if the risk can be managed or if the benefits outweigh the risks.
3. Restriction List (Annex XVII): This list shows chemicals that are banned or restricted in the EU. It applies to the making, selling, or using of these substances. If a product has too much of a chemical from this list, it cannot be sold in the EU.
Failure to comply with the REACH regulation could result in product bans from sale in the EU market. REACH places the burden of proof on companies to provide all information about their use of chemical substances.
As a result, third-party testing is required to verify compliance by testing for restricted REACH substances.
Who Needs REACH Testing?
REACH impacts many companies across many sectors, even those that may not consider themselves involved with chemicals. In general, you should perform REACH testing if you have one of these roles:
➜ Manufacturer: If you make chemicals to use yourself or sell to others (even outside the EU), you likely have duties under REACH.
➜ Importer: If you buy chemicals, mixtures, or finished goods (like clothing or furniture) from outside the EU/EEA, you probably need to follow REACH.
➜ Downstream User: Most companies use chemicals, even if they don’t realise it. If your work includes using chemicals, you may have responsibilities under REACH too.
Compliance with REACH allows companies to:
- Show they’re protecting health and the environment
- Sell products in the EU market
- Avoid fines or legal issues
REACH Testing at Southern Scientific
At Southern Scientific, we help companies meet REACH requirements. Our REACH testing can help you prepare your registration of chemical substances with ECHA and ensure compliance with regulations. Our service includes:
- Accredited labs providing best-in-class REACH analysis by mass spectrometry.
- Lab experts trained and certified in regulatory standards and the newest testing methods.
- Quick turnaround time for testing
If you’re unsure whether your products need REACH testing, we can help you figure it out and explain what steps to take.
