The REACH regulation for particularly hazardous substances

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27/08/2025
The modern industry can no longer ignore the impact of chemicals on the environment and human health. In an increasingly stringent regulatory landscape, the REACH regulation emerges as an essential tool to ensure safety, traceability and accountability throughout the supply chain. For technical and industrial companies, understanding the REACH regulation and its implications is not only about avoiding penalties or marketing blockages, but is a strategic lever to build credibility, anticipate risks and enhance products in line with customer and stakeholder expectations.
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REACH regulation: what it provides

The REACH Regulation (EC 1907/2006), an acronym for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals is a European Union regulation that came into force on 1 June 2007, with the aim of improving the protection of human health and the environment from the risks associated with chemicals.

Unlike more specific regulations such as RoHS, REACH applies to all chemicals, whether used in industrial processes or found in everyday items such as paints, detergents, textiles, furniture or electronic devices.

Therefore, this regulation has a cross-sectoral impact on a wide range of production sectors.

REACH is based on four pillars:

 

  1. Registration with ECHA , the European Chemicals Agency, for all substances produced or imported in quantities ≥ 1 tonne/year;
  2. Evaluation of submitted data for completeness and reliability;
  3. Authorisation for use of substances classified as particularly critical (SVHC);
  4. Restriction or banning of chemicals in certain contexts of use.

 

The basic principle of the regulation is clear: “No data, no market”: in practice, without sufficient data and compliant registration, a substance CANNOT be marketed within the EU.

REACH places the burden of proof on companies: they must identify, evaluate and safely manage the substances they use, providing evidence to ECHA and communicating risk management measures to customers along the supply chain. If risks are found to be unmanageable, authorities can restrict or ban their use, encouraging their substitution with less hazardous alternatives.

Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) under the REACH regulations

One of the central aspects of REACH is the management of so-called SVHC (Substances of Very High Concern), i.e. substances considered particularly hazardous to human health and the environment.

These include:

  • Substances that are carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction (CMRs)
  • Persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic compounds (PBT)
  • Endocrine disruptors and other substances with equivalent effects

 

SVHCs are listed in ECHA’s Candidate List, a table that is updated periodically and will exceed 240 entries in 2025.

Company roles and obligations according to REACH regulations

The REACH regulation imposes precise obligations on all companies that manufacture, import or use chemicals within the European Union, including those in complex products.

Specifically, the REACH regulation distinguishes responsibilities according to the company’s position in the production cycle:

  • Manufacturers (EU): must register substances with ECHA and provide full information on properties, uses and risks
  • Importers: they are responsible for the compliance of substances placed on the EU market, even if contained in finished or semi-finished products
  • Downstream users: they are required to comply with the conditions indicated in the Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and to ensure the safe use of substances
  • Non-EU companies: they are not directly subject to REACH, but must work through European representatives or importers to ensure compliance

Integrated regulation: the connection between REACH and RoHS

The REACH and RoHS regulations are often considered complementary, but in reality they have quite different scopes.

While RoHS focuses on specific substances (e.g. lead, cadmium, etc.) in electrical and electronic devices, REACH has a broader scope, regulating all chemicals in every sector.

Some substances banned by RoHS are also SVHC under REACH, thus requiring an integrated approach to compliance management.

For example, a product such as an industrial ball for electronic use must comply with both regulations. For companies, therefore, aligning REACH and RoHS means reducing risks, simplifying control processes and enhancing product sustainability.

The RGPBALLS approach to REACH regulations: safety, analysis and full certification

In RGPBALLS la conformità alla normativa REACH è parte integrante della nostra filosofia.

At RGPBALLS, REACH compliance is an integral part of our philosophy.

As a matter of fact, our strategy is based on:

  • Selection of certified and controlled materials
  • Collaboration with qualified suppliers throughout the supply chain
  • Rigorous analysis and testing of our components in our Quality Control Laboratory
  • Up-to-date and complete documentation for substance traceability

 

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