TL;DR: REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) is the EU's comprehensive chemical regulation. It applies to almost ALL products sold in the EU, not just chemicals. The SVHC candidate list currently has 200+ substances. Testing costs $1,000–$5,000 per product.
What Is REACH?
REACH (EC 1907/2006) is the EU's regulation on chemical substances. Unlike RoHS (which targets specific substances in electronics), REACH covers ALL products sold in the EU — from textiles to toys to furniture to electronics. REACH requires:
- Registration of chemical substances manufactured or imported into the EU above 1 tonne/year.
- Disclosure of SVHCs (Substances of Very High Concern) above 0.1% by weight in articles.
- Compliance with restrictions in REACH Annex XVII.
SVHC: The Key Requirement for Importers
For most product importers, the main REACH obligation is SVHC (Substances of Very High Concern) compliance. The SVHC Candidate List is updated twice a year (January and July) and currently contains 200+ substances. If any SVHC is present above 0.1% weight in your product:
- You must inform downstream users and consumers upon request.
- You must notify ECHA (European Chemicals Agency) if over 1 tonne/year is imported.
- Some SVHCs require authorization before use (Annex XIV substances).
REACH Testing Process
- Identify materials: List all materials and substances in your product.
- Request supplier data: Ask Chinese suppliers for REACH declarations and material safety data sheets (MSDS).
- Third-party testing: Send samples to an accredited lab for SVHC screening against the full candidate list.
- SCIP notification: For products containing SVHCs above 0.1%, submit a SCIP (Substances of Concern In articles as such or in complex objects/Products) notification to ECHA.
- Documentation: Maintain REACH compliance records for regulatory audits.
Costs
| Test Type | Cost | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| SVHC screening (full candidate list) | $1,500 – $4,000 | 10–15 business days |
| Annex XVII restricted substances | $500 – $2,000 | 5–10 business days |
| Full REACH + RoHS combo test | $2,000 – $5,000 | 10–15 business days |
REACH vs RoHS: What's the Difference?
| Factor | REACH | RoHS |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | ALL products | Electrical/electronic equipment only |
| Substances | 200+ SVHCs (growing) | 10 specific substances |
| Threshold | 0.1% weight of article | 0.1% per homogeneous material |
| Updated | Twice per year (new SVHCs added) | Stable (10 substances fixed) |