Is a REACH Certificate Mandatory?

In some cases, reach compliance is mandatory. REACH is a regulation, not a certification.It is the European Union’s regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals, aimed at protecting human health and environmental safety while improving transparency in the use of chemicals.

The main requirement of REACH is to prove that consumer products do not contain harmful substances. Therefore, any consumer products manufactured in or imported into the EU — particularly textiles— must undergo registration, inspection, and approval for hazardous chemical content. If the level of harmful substances exceeds the set limits, the products cannot be sold on the EU market.

Is reach certification Mandatory?

What we usually refer to as "reach testing" primarily concerns restrictions and the testing of svhc (Substances of Very High Concern). Currently, the reach regulation lists 174 SVHC substances.

Strictly speaking, REACH testing itself is not mandatory. However, because so many hazardous substances are regulated, EU customers typically require exporters to provide a reach test reportbefore accepting products.

Specific REACH-Related Situations

- SVHC Substances: For products containing SVHCs in concentrations above 0.1%, companies must submit information to the SCIP databasemanaged by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).

- Articles or Complex Objects: Under the Waste Framework Directive, the SCIP database requires information on candidate list substances in products, ensuring traceability and safety throughout their entire lifecycle.

- Special Cases: While REACH registration is not always mandatory, companies failing to comply with REACH regulations may face restrictions, including being prohibited from placing their chemical products on the EU market.