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What Is EU REACH?
REACH isn’t optional. If you make, import, or sell products in the EU that contain chemicals even inside finished goods you’re on the hook. Get it right, or risk losing market access.
REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) is the EU regulation that governs chemical safety. It puts the burden of proof on businesses. If you can’t prove safety, you can’t sell.
You must:
- Register substances with ECHA if usage exceeds 1 tonne/year.
- Evaluate chemical safety and manage risks.
- Notify customers and authorities of SVHCs.
- Apply for authorization or follow use restrictions.
Related: The Complete Guide to EU REACH Regulation
A Brief History of REACH
- Adopted: December 2006
- In Force: June 2007 REACH replaced fragmented chemical laws with a single, directly applicable regulation across the EU. It’s governed by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).
- On 27 April 2026, EU Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall confirmed to the European Parliament's ENVI Committee that the Commission would not proceed with a comprehensive REACH revision at this stage: "We have come to the conclusion to not open REACH at this point." The decision effectively shelves REACH 2.0, a near-six-year reform process that had proposed significant changes including a 10-year registration validity period, mandatory polymer registration, and overhaul of the authorisation system. The Commission's Regulatory Scrutiny Board had issued a negative opinion on the impact assessment in September 2025, which stalled the legislative process. For manufacturers, this means existing REACH obligations remain unchanged. Regulatory focus will instead shift to targeted technical updates, PFAS restrictions, and enhanced market surveillance — none of which reduces the compliance burden for article producers and substance manufacturers.
Related: REACH Candidate List Update: Jan 2025 SVHC Additions
Key Lists of the REACH regulation framework
- Annex XVII Guide: Restricted Chemicals
- Annex XIV Explained: Authorisation Pathways
- Candidate List: The Candidate List is a compilation of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) that have already been formally identified as meeting one or more Article 57 criteria carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic for reproduction (CMR), persistent/bioaccumulative/toxic (PBT/vPvB), or of equivalent concern. They are not under ongoing evaluation; they have been assessed and confirmed as SVHCs. Their presence on the list means they are candidates for potential inclusion in Annex XIV (the Authorisation List). As of 4 February 2026, the list contains 253 entries.
Purpose: These substances are under consideration for inclusion in the Authorization List. Firms using substances from the Candidate List are encouraged to explore alternative, safer options.
- Authorisation List: Definition: The Authorisation List (Annex XIV) consists of substances that have been identified as having serious effects on health or the environment.
Purpose: Substances listed in Annex XIV require explicit authorization for their use. Companies must apply for authorization to continue using these substances, and there is a sunset date after which use without authorization is prohibited.
- Restricted List: Definition: The Restricted List (Annex XVII) comprises substances that ECHA has either banned or restricted in specific situations or for certain uses.
Purpose: Restrictions may include limitations on concentration levels or usage in specific applications to mitigate risks to human health and the environment. Compliance with the restrictions outlined in Annex XVII is mandatory.
Five-Step Guide to REACH Compliance
- Collect Substance Information Dig deep into your supply chain. You need full material disclosures, SDSs, and any test reports—especially for substances >1 tonne/year.
- Register with ECHA Submit a joint registration dossier under the “one substance, one registration” rule. No shortcut here.
- ECHA Evaluation They’ll review your data and might ask for more. Don’t get caught with weak documentation.
- Authorization & Restriction Rulings If your substances are risky, you’ll need to prove safe use or stop using them altogether.
- Get Your REACH Registration Number No number, no compliance. That’s your regulatory receipt. Keep it audit-ready.
REACH Compliance Workflow
- Check SVHC content (>0.1%) in articles
- Article 33 Disclosure to customers and upon request
- Article 7 Notification to ECHA (if >1t/year and not registered)
- SCIP Submission for all articles with SVHCs (since 2021)
- Check for Authorization (Annex XIV) or Restriction (Annex XVII)
- Maintain updated documentation and supplier outreach
Related: SCIP Database vs. REACH Reporting Requirements
REACH Compliance: Article vs. Substance Manufacturers
Ongoing REACH Compliance Obligations
- Track the Candidate List (ECHA publishes updates periodically, typically one to two times per year verify directly on ECHA's Candidate List page, as the schedule is not fixed). The current list stands at 253 entries as of 4 February 2026.
- Update dossiers if substance volume, use, or hazards change.
- Respond to SVHC requests under Article 33 within 45 days—no delays.
REACH in Other Jurisdictions
- UK REACH: Post-Brexit version of REACH
- Ukraine REACH: REACH-aligned regulation (Resolution 847)
Still Managing REACH Manually?
You're burning time, budget, and audit readiness.
Regilient Agentic Sustainability Platform does the heavy lifting:
- Automates supplier requests and validation
- Flags SVHCs in real time across BOMs
- Prepares SCIP dossiers in minutes
- Tracks changes in EU regulations by substance and market
With Regilient, you get:
- Centralized documentation
- 80%+ manual effort reduction
- Total traceability across every part and supplier
If your REACH programme still runs on spreadsheets, the next Candidate List update will expose that gap. Book a Regilient demo to see how automated SVHC screening, Article 33 workflows, and SCIP integration keep your compliance position current without manual effort after every ECHA update.
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What is REACH Compliance & How is it enforced ?
What is EU REACH and who does it apply to?
REACH stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals. It is the EU regulation governing chemical safety, in force since June 2007, and enforced by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). It applies to any business that manufactures, imports, or sells products in the EU that contain chemicals including finished goods. The burden of proof sits with the business: if you cannot demonstrate safety, you cannot sell.
What are the three key REACH lists and what does each require?
Candidate List (SVHCs): Substances under evaluation for their effects on health and the environment. Triggers Article 33 disclosure, SCIP notification, and potential Article 7(2) notification immediately on inclusion. Currently 250 entries as of June 2025 Annex XIV (Authorisation List): SVHCs with serious effects that require explicit authorisation before use or placement on the market after the Sunset Date. Each entry carries a Latest Application Date and a Sunset Date Annex XVII (Restriction List): Binding restrictions on manufacture, use, or placement on the market content limits, use bans, and emissions thresholds that apply regardless of whether a substance is an SVHC
When must a substance be registered with ECHA under REACH?
Registration is required when a substance is manufactured in or imported into the EU at one tonne or more per year. The registration follows a "one substance, one registration" principle, meaning manufacturers of the same substance must submit jointly under a lead registrant structure. No registration number means no compliant market access. The number must be maintained and kept audit-ready at all times.
What is the difference between REACH compliance for article manufacturers vs substance manufacturers?
The obligations differ significantly based on what you are placing on the EU market. Substance manufacturers must register with ECHA above the one-tonne threshold, maintain a chemical safety report, and update their dossier when substance volume, use, or hazard data changes. Article manufacturers must screen their products against the Candidate List, issue Article 33 disclosures when SVHCs exceed 0.1% w/w, submit SCIP notifications, and notify ECHA under Article 7(2) where the tonnage threshold is met. Many manufacturers fall into both categories simultaneously when they both produce substances and incorporate them into finished goods.
What are the ongoing REACH compliance obligations manufacturers must maintain?
Track the REACH Candidate List after every ECHA update, typically twice per year, and re-screen the full product portfolio against each new version Respond to Article 33 consumer and customer requests within 45 days, with the substance name and safe use information provided free of charge Update registration dossiers if substance volume, use case, or hazard classification changes Maintain SCIP submissions for all articles containing SVHCs above 0.1% w/w Monitor Annex XIV sunset dates and Annex XVII applicability dates for any restrictions affecting materials or processes in use
How does Regilient help manufacturers manage REACH compliance?
Regilient's agentic sustainability platform automates the full REACH compliance workflow: Real-time BOM screening against the live Candidate List with automated alerts on each ECHA update Article 33 disclosure workflows with 45-day SLA tracking and templated substance-named responses SCIP dossier preparation integrated directly from screening outputs Article 7(2) eligibility checks triggered automatically when new SVHC additions affect products above tonnage thresholds Annex XIV sunset date and Annex XVII applicability date monitoring with supplier and engineering team alerts Supplier outreach and data validation workflows that replace manual spreadsheet-based management