What is the REACH testing directive?
REACH directive stands for "Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals." It is a regulation implemented by the EU for the preventive management of all chemicals entering its market, effective from June 1, 2007. The REACH proposal, a chemical white paper proposed by the EU Commission in February 2001, was formally introduced in the first quarter of 2007 and came into force in all member states.
REACH requirements:
REACH primarily mandates demonstrating the absence of harmful chemicals in consumer products. Consequently, all consumer goods produced in or imported into the EU market, primarily textiles, must undergo registration, inspection, and approval for harmful chemical content. Products exceeding the specified limits are prohibited from being sold in the EU market.
REACH scope
The EU REACH will encompass 30,000 chemical substances, approximately one-third of the existing 100,000 chemicals on the EU market. Testing will be implemented progressively, with the types of substances to be tested increasing gradually over 3, 6, or 11 years. However, prior to 2013, harmful substances or those with significant import volumes will be given priority. Starting now and within the next 3 years, products containing hazardous substances, such as carcinogens, mutagens, and substances toxic during reproduction, must be registered and tested before they can be sold.
Purpose of REACH Implementation:
Protect human health and the environment, maintain and enhance the competitiveness of the EU chemical industry; increase transparency of chemical information; reduce testing on vertebrates; align with the EU's international obligations under the WTO framework; essentially, REACH will establish a unified chemical management system across the EU, enabling businesses to produce new chemicals and their products in accordance with unified principles.
REACH Main Content:
—— Registration: All chemicals with an annual production or import volume exceeding 1 ton must be registered; chemicals with an annual production or import volume of more than 10 tons should also submit a chemical safety report.
——Assess(Valuation): Includes document assessment and material assessment. Document assessment involves verifying the completeness and consistency of the company's submitted registration files. Material assessment confirms the risk of chemicals to human health and the environment.
—— Authorization: Authorization for the production and import of chemical substances with certain hazardous characteristics that require high attention, including CMR (Carcinogenic, Mutagenic, and Toxic to Reproduction) substances, PBT (Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic) substances, and vPvB (Very Persistent and Very Bioaccumulative) substances.
—— Restriction: If it is believed that the production, marketing, or use of a substance or its articles, preparations, or products poses an unacceptably high risk to human health or the environment, its production or import into the EU will be restricted!
What is the relationship between REACH and SVHC?
SVHC is simply a list of highly concerned substances that must be registered before REACH. So, when third-party testing agencies refer to REACH testing, they are actually talking about SVHC testing. These agencies test products against the EU's updated SVHC list each year, which is continuously growing.
