REACH Regulation Europe stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals. Implemented by the European Union on June 1, 2007, it protects human health and the environment from chemical risks. Operating under the principle "No data, no market," REACH places the legal burden of proof directly on businesses to demonstrate product safety before selling within the European Economic Area (EEA).
Purpose: Identifies chemical properties early, phases out dangerous substances, and promotes non-animal hazard testing.
Business Significance: Compliance is a non-negotiable prerequisite for importing or selling goods in Europe.
Regulatory Authority: Governed by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), REACH applies across all 27 EU member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
Risks of Non-Compliance: Leads to border rejections, forced product recalls, severe fines, and bans on major e-commerce platforms like Amazon. Learn more about the broader consequences in our guide to GPSR penalties and product recalls.
EU Manufacturers & Importers: Hold primary legal responsibility for raw chemicals, mixtures, and finished physical goods. If you need support with customs and import obligations, see our Importer of Record (IOR) / Exporter of Record (EOR) services.
Distributors & E-Commerce Sellers: Must verify supplier compliance for all goods sold in the EU, alongside other obligations such as GPSR compliance.
Downstream Users: Companies using industrial chemicals or components during manufacturing.
Registration: Mandatory for substances manufactured or imported at 1 tonne or more per year per legal entity.
SVHC Tracking & SCIP: Products containing >0.1% weight-by-weight of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) require user communication and ECHA SCIP database filing.
Restrictions & Authorisation: Restricted substances (Annex XVII) must not exceed threshold limits, while hazardous chemicals (Annex XIV) require explicit authorization.
Governed by Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, REACH works alongside the CLP Regulation (packaging/labeling), RoHS Directive (electronics), and POPs Regulation. For a broader look at how these regulations fit together, read our EU chemical compliance guide.
Inventory Assessment: Create a detailed Bill of Materials (BOM) for your product.
Supply Chain Data: Collect chemical declarations and test reports from suppliers, including a compliant Safety Data Sheet (SDS) where applicable.
Lab Testing: Test components for restricted substances and SVHCs.
Notification: Submit SCIP database filings for articles exceeding the 0.1% SVHC threshold.
Guarantees seamless EEA market entry, avoids costly customs seizures, protects brand reputation, and builds trust with European B2B buyers. Compliant sellers are also better positioned when meeting related obligations such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) requirements.
A US activewear brand exporting yoga pants to Germany tests its products and finds a plastic zipper containing 0.12% phthalates (an SVHC). The brand notifies the ECHA SCIP database and provides safe-use instructions to remain fully compliant.
Navigating EU chemical compliance is fast and straightforward with Complico Consulting GmbH. Our specialists provide supply chain audits, SCIP filings, and testing strategies tailored to your products — explore our full range of compliance services.
Contact Complico Consulting GmbH today to secure your EU market access!
