REACH is a major reform of EU chemicals policy, affecting all global supply chains that produce and use chemicals. This webpage is for U.S. exporters to Europe, particularly SMEs, to inform them about requirements under REACH and to help them comply with this new regulation, in force in all EU Member States since 1 June 2007. This webpage includes official EU documents and U.S. government reports, and a list of business service providers offering consulting or legal advice for REACH compliance.

REACH 101: New to REACH? Click here for a REACH overview.

What's New?

Chemical Registration and Notification: The European Commission and ECHA have produced a leaflet specifically targeted to SMEs on the REACH and CLP Regulations titled "2010: A Key Year for Chemicals Registration and Notification - Act Now!"  It focuses on SIEFs and also reminds SMEs about the 3 January 2011 deadline for notification of classification and labeling set by the CLP regulation.

Lead Registrant Webinar on Substance Identity: An ECHA Webinar on substance identity will take place on 25 January 2010.  It is available to all Lead Registrants. This fourth webinar will provide Lead Registrants with advice on key concepts on substance identity, related common problems and information on substance identity needed for dossier preparation.

The REACH Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern Now Includes 29 Substances: The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has added 14 chemicals to the Candidate List of SVHC for Authorization. U.S. companies exporting articles to the EU containing these substances have the obligation to inform EU customers and consumers on request, of the presence of these substances in their products. Companies are advised to prepare for SVHC obligations. For more assistance, please consult our list of REACH business service providers  for assistance in SVHC compliance.  Public Consultation on the Classification of 3 Chemicals: The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has published proposed harmonized classification and labeling for white spirits, the fungicide fuberidazole and the insecticide thiacloprid.  Comments are due by March 3, 2010.

Commission Study Comparing REACH Fines in Member States: On December 7, the European Commission presented the preliminary results of its study comparing sanctions in the Member States for non-compliance with the REACH Regulation. The study shows that there are strong discrepencies in REACH fines. The level of fines is the highest in the UK, Belgium, Ireland, Poland and Portugal and the lowest in Austria, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta and Romania. In those countries, the study concludes that the fines are too low to be dissuasive. 

The list of chemicals exempt from registration under Reach (annex IV and V) has been published in the EU official journal. Draft guidance related to the exemptions in annex V is now available.

How REACH applies to nanomaterials.

Important Deadlines 

Since 1 June 2008: Registration of new chemicals (not listed on the EU inventories ELINCS and EINECS). See the Commission Communication of December 12, 2008 on enquiry and registration of  substances that were legally on the market before 1 June 08 but which do not have phase-in status.

Since 28 October 2008: Suppliers of articles (finished products) containing substances on the Candidate List (see above) in concentration above 0.1% must provide sufficient information, available to them, to their customers and on request to consumers within 45 days of the receipt of this request. This information must ensure safe use of the article and, as a minimum, include the name of the substance (REACH article 33).

By 30 November 2010: Registration of CMRs 1 and 2 (carcinogens) above 1 ton/ year/ manufacturer, substances classified as very toxic to aquatic organisms above 100 t/year/ manufacturer and substances as such, in preparations (mixtures) or intended to be released from articles (finished products) in quantities above 1000 t/year/manufacturer.

From 1 December 2010: Notification of classification and labeling to ECHA.

REACH Assistance

REACH Business Service Providers: If you need legal or technical assistance for REACH compliance, please check our list of REACH Business Service Providers. These companies have paid to be a part of our listing, and while we have checked the references they provided, their presence on our list does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the U.S. Commercial Service.

Guidance documents: will help you understand and comply with REACH. They cover the main REACH processes: Registration, Authorization, Restrictions, Data sharing, Requirements for substances in Articles (finished products). The guidance documents are also available in summary versions.

Frequently Asked Questions: updated 19 November 2009.

Helpdesks: You may submit your questions to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and/or Member States helpdesks.

Looking for an Only Representative?

REACH gives the option to non-EU manufacturers to appoint an Only Representative (OR) in the EU to make sure that their exports comply with REACH without having to disclose information on their products to the importers. The OR must carry out all obligations of importers under REACH, including (pre-)registration.

Our list of Only Representatives (ORs) is a selection of firms which offer assistance to U.S. businesses in making sure their products comply with REACH. These providers have paid to be a part of our listing, and while we believe them to be reliable and have checked the references they provided, their presence on our list does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the U.S. Commercial Service. This list is not an exhaustive list of all European firms offering OR services. Please note that there is no EU accreditation system for ORs.

SME Portal

Small- and medium-sized enterprises benefit from reduced fees under REACH, and many SMEs could fall within a REACH exemption for chemicals entering the EU market in quantities less than than 1 metric ton per year.

Who qualifies as an SME for the purposes of REACH compliance? The category of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is made up of businesses employing fewer than 250 persons and having annual turnover not exceeding 50 million euro, and/or an annual balance sheet total not exceeding 43 million euro. For more information, consult the SME User Guide. The SME reduction applies to Only Representatives based on the size of the non-EU manufacturer that they represent.  

Legal Texts:

The original REACH Regulation was adopted in December 06, and any updates to the text will be made available at the ECHA Website.

REACH Fee Regulation
Testing Methods for REACH

US Sources of Information

REACH Contacts across the EU. For a list of U.S. Commercial Service personnel who handle REACH-related inquiries, please click here.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Toxic Substances Control Act page and Globally Harmonized System for Classification and Labelling page.

ANSI: American National Standards Institute 

EU Websites:

European Chemicals Agency
National Helpdesks
DG Enterprise
DG Environment

Contact Information:

If you have additional questions not covered on this website, please send an email to the following address: Brussels.EC.Office.Box@N0SPAM.mail.doc.gov and reference "REACH Inquiry" in the subject line. One of our specialists will respond to your inquiry as soon as possible.

Links to web sites outside the U.S. Government or the use of trade, firm, or corporation names within U.S. Commercial Service web sites are for the convenience of the user. Such links and use do not constitute an express or implied official endorsement or approval by the United States Department of Commerce of any private sector web site, or of the products or services of specifically identified companies or entities.