REACH certification

I. REACH Testing

REACH testing is a regulation governing the registration, evaluation, authorization, and restriction of chemicals in the EU market. It imposes requirements on restricting the use and content of toxic and hazardous substances covered by the REACH regulation. REACH certification stipulates that EU manufacturers or importers must notify the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) if the concentration of a Substance of Very High Concern (SVHC) in a product exceeds 0.1%, and the total amount of this substance contained in the products of each producer/importer exceeds 1 ton per year.

II. REACH SVHC Restricted Substances

The purpose of the REACH regulation is to protect human health and the environment. The implementation of REACH has had a significant impact on the electrical and electronic industry.

To comply with REACH, manufacturers or suppliers of electrical and electronic products should identify and control hazardous substances in their products, especially Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) and REACH restricted substances.

A substance that falls under any of the following categories may be considered a Substance of Very High Concern (SVHC):

a. Carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic to reproduction (CMRs);

b. Persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBTs);

c. Very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvBs);

d. Substances that cause serious and/or irreversible damage to the environment or human health, as well as those harmful to the hormonal system.

III. Core Scope of Products Required to Comply with REACH Requirements

According to the REACH Regulation, the following three categories of "entities" must comply with the relevant obligations under REACH (registration, evaluation, authorization, restriction, etc.):

Substances

Refers to pure chemical substances (such as elemental metals, organic solvents, plastic raw materials, etc.).

Example: Pure substances such as plastic pellets, metal powders, and dyes exported to the EU must complete REACH registration if the annual export volume exceeds 1 ton.

Mixtures

Refers to products composed of two or more substances mixed together (such as coatings, adhesives, cleaning agents, electrolytes, etc.).

Example: Electrolyte in power bank battery cells, paint used on furniture, cleaning agents, etc. It is necessary to ensure that the chemical substances contained in these products comply with the restriction requirements. If they contain Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC), notification obligations must be fulfilled.

Articles

Refer to finished products with a specific shape, appearance, or design (where the primary function is not the release of chemical substances).

Examples: Electronic and electrical products (such as mobile phones, power banks), textiles, toys, furniture, metal products, plastic products, etc.

Key judgment: If an article contains "intentionally released chemical substances" (e.g., scented toys releasing fragrances, coatings releasing preservatives), or if the concentration of a chemical substance (such as SVHC) in the article exceeds 0.1% and the annual export volume exceeds 1 ton, the corresponding obligations (notification, restriction, etc.) must be fulfilled.

IV. Special Cases Not Requiring Full Compliance with REACH

Food, pharmaceuticals, and veterinary drugs: Mainly regulated by other specific EU regulations (such as the Food Contact Materials Regulation 10/2011), but if the chemical substances in them exceed REACH restrictions, they may still be held accountable.

Radioactive substances: Regulated by EU regulations on radioactive substances; REACH only partially applies.

Waste: Discarded products no longer fall under the category of "articles" regulated by REACH, but new products made from recycled materials still need to comply with the requirements.