REACH governs chemicals in the European Union, including those contained in imported articles.
Who is affected
The European IMPORTER. The Asian manufacturer can appoint an "only representative" in the EU to handle the formalities for its customers.
What to do
- Ask the supplier whether its articles contain a "substance of very high concern" (ECHA candidate list) above 0.1%.
- If so: inform your customers, answer consumers within 45 days, declare in the SCIP database, notify ECHA above 1 tonne a year (at the latest 6 months after the substance is added to the candidate list).
- Importing a SUBSTANCE above 1 tonne a year: register it.
Dates
- The candidate list is updated about twice a year: check regularly.
Official source (checked on 16/10/2026, figures re-checked on 01/11/2026) : Règlement (CE) 1907/2006 (REACH) (art. 7 : notification ; art. 33 : information) — EUR-Lex · Ministère de la Transition écologique — Le règlement REACH
General information, not legal advice. Check the official source before you decide.