What is the REACH Regulation?
The regulation is Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council and entered into force in 2007.
The purpose of REACH is to provide a high level of protection for human health and the environment while ensuring the free movement of chemicals within the EU internal market. The regulation also aims to promote innovation and encourage the development of safer alternatives to hazardous substances.
A fundamental principle of REACH is that responsibility is shifted from authorities to companies. Rather than authorities proving that a substance is safe, companies that manufacture, import or use substances must demonstrate that they can be handled without unacceptable risks.
The four components of REACH
Registration
As a general rule, companies that manufacture or import chemical substances in quantities exceeding one tonne per year must register them with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). The registration includes information about the substance's properties, uses, exposure scenarios and risks.
Registration enables authorities, companies and users to gain better knowledge of chemical substances on the market. Without registration, a substance may generally not be placed on the EU market.
Evaluation
Once information has been submitted, it is reviewed by ECHA and the authorities of EU Member States. The purpose is to verify that registrations meet quality requirements and to identify substances that may present particular risks.
Some substances are also placed on evaluation lists, where authorities investigate whether further measures may be necessary. In practice, this serves as a mechanism for identifying substances that may require stricter regulation in the future.
Authorisation
REACH includes an authorisation system for substances considered particularly hazardous. These substances are identified as SVHC substances (Substances of Very High Concern) and may subsequently be added to the REACH Authorisation List in Annex XIV.
To continue using a substance included in Annex XIV, companies must apply for specific authorisation from ECHA and the European Commission. The intention is that the use of these substances will gradually decrease and be replaced by safer alternatives.
Restrictions
The fourth component of REACH is restrictions. These are listed in Annex XVII and involve complete or partial bans on certain substances for specific uses.Restrictions are introduced when a substance is considered to pose unacceptable risks that need to be managed at EU level. Measures may include bans, concentration limits or specific conditions of use.
The Candidate List and SVHC substances
One of the most well known elements of REACH is the Candidate List. This list contains substances identified as particularly hazardous and that may become subject to future authorisation requirements.
SVHC substances may include:
- Carcinogenic substances (CMRs)
- Mutagenic substances that may damage genetic material
- Reproductive toxicants
- PBT substances (persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic)
- vPvB substances (very persistent and very bioaccumulative)
- Endocrine disrupting substances and other substances with equally serious properties
The Candidate List is updated regularly and is often used as a signal to the market regarding substances that should be phased out or replaced over time.
Information requirements under article 33
A very important aspect of REACH is the information duty for articles. If an article contains more than 0.1 percent by weight of a substance included on the Candidate List, the supplier must inform customers about its presence and provide information for safe use.
It is important to understand that this is not a prohibition. The product may still be sold, but information must be communicated throughout the supply chain.
In practice, this means that companies need a thorough understanding of the content of their products and must be able to collect information from their suppliers. This requirement is one of the key drivers behind increased transparency in value chains.
The role of ECHA
REACH is administered by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), based in Helsinki. ECHA is responsible for databases, registrations, evaluations and information related to chemicals.
The agency also publishes the Candidate List, the Authorisation List and the Restriction List. In Sweden, the Swedish Chemicals Agency (Kemikalieinspektionen, KEMI) is the authority responsible for supporting and monitoring the implementation of REACH.
REACH and construction products
REACH has become highly significant for the construction sector. Construction products often consist of many components, raw materials and chemical substances, making traceability and content declarations particularly important.
Key aspects include: Rules regarding SVHC substances, information obligations under Article 33, restrictions under Annex XVII, requirements for Safety Data Sheets for chemical products
Within the construction sector, REACH forms the basis for many voluntary systems and assessment tools. The BASTA system criteria, for example, are based on REACH, CLP and the Swedish Chemicals Agency's prioritisation work. The objective is to support the phase out of substances with hazardous properties from construction and infrastructure products.
A particularly important principle for construction products is "once an article, always an article". This means that each individual article within a complex product must be assessed separately when evaluating the presence of SVHC substances. Concentrations cannot be diluted by calculating them across the entire assembled product.
This principle has become increasingly important with the development of digital product passports, the SCIP database, reuse initiatives and circular construction practices. To enable the safe reuse of construction products, knowledge of the substances contained within materials is essential.
Today, many construction projects require information about Candidate List substances, restricted substances and other chemical risks well beyond minimum legal requirements.
You can read more about REACH and BASTA here: EU REACH – SVHC | BASTA
To view data for a specific product, search for it using our open search engine, Search | BASTA, open the product page and review its data and compliance information.
An example of how REACH related information is presented in a product record can be found here: