EU Registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals (REACH)
Governmental Agency: European Commission
Jurisdiction: European Union
Ref no: Original: REACH Regulation (Regulation (EC) 1907/2006
Status: IN REVIEW 2024
The Regulation on the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals (REACH), implemented in 2007, is the main law to manage chemicals used in the EU. Its main goals are:
The REACH Regulation aims to:
- ensure a high level of protection of human health and the environment against harmful substances
- assess the safety of chemical substances in use in the EU
- promote innovation and competitiveness
- promote alternative (non-animal) methods for the assessment of the hazards of substances
The regulation is highly relevant for the textiles sector, which utilises significant quantities of chemical substances in the manufacturing of products such as dyes, bleaches and coatings to meet technical and/or aesthetic requirements.
Following the release of the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability in 2020 it was announced that the regulation would be reviewed. While specific details with regard to how this will impact the textile industry are not identified, key areas of focus include:
- Improving supply chain communications in support of accuracy & transparency
- Increasing the efficiency of the evaluation, registration and authorisation procedures, while ensuring they are sufficiently rigorous to ensure compliance.
- Increasing the speed at which restrictions are delivered to protect consumers and professional users.
- Ensure the effectiveness of enforcement systems across all Member States.
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The following clothing, textile and footwear businesses must comply with the REACH regulation:
- Businesses that manufacture products, that contain any chemical substances, in the EU.
- Businesses that import products that contain chemical substances into the EU.
The content of SVHC (Substances of Very High Concern) cannot exceed 0.1% of the total product weight. If companies do not comply with the set-out thresholds, penalties will be given and the associated products cannot be commercialized in the EU.
REACH places the burden of proof on companies. To comply with the regulation, companies must identify and manage the risks linked to the substances they manufacture and market in the EU.
Companies established outside of the EU/European Economic Area (EEA) do not have obligations under REACH. It is the EU importer that must comply with REACH.
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On September 18, 2024, the Commission adopted new measures under the REACH Regulation to ban the sale and use of undecafluorohexanoic acid (‘PFHxA') and PFHxA ‑related substances in consumer textiles. These checmicals are subgroups of PFAS and their use in apparel poses risks to human health and the environment.
The restriction will formally enter into force 20 days after publication in the Official Journal. It will take effect after transitional periods of between 18 months and 5 years, depending on the use, allowing time for replacement by safer alternatives.
