REACH Regulation
REACH, given as Regulation EC 1907/2006, is the European Union framework for the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals. For electronic and rugged hardware it requires manufacturers and suppliers to identify, control and declare substances of very high concern present in their products, protecting human health and the environment.
Key Takeaways
REACH is the European Union regulation governing the safe use of chemicals in products.
It is defined by Regulation EC 1907/2006 and covers registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction.
Suppliers must identify and declare substances of very high concern above defined thresholds.
It supports safer materials selection across electronic and rugged hardware supply chains.
REACH places responsibility on companies to understand and manage the risks of the chemical substances they use. For hardware producers this means knowing which regulated substances are present in components and materials.
The regulation maintains a list of substances of very high concern. When these are present above a defined threshold, suppliers must communicate their presence through the supply chain and, in some cases, seek authorisation for continued use.
Manufacturers and importers must register relevant substances, respond to information requests and provide declarations confirming the regulated content of their products. This information supports customer compliance and procurement.
REACH declarations give organisations confidence that rugged hardware has been assessed against European chemical safety requirements, supporting environmental, health and safety policies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals, a European Union regulation.
A chemical identified under REACH as posing serious risks to health or the environment, which must be declared and may require authorisation.
No. REACH is a broad chemicals framework, while RoHS specifically restricts certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.
Registration of relevant substances and declarations of any substances of very high concern present in their products.
From Theory to Application
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