Restrictions

Any substance that poses an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment that is deemed to require EU-wide action can be restricted under REACH. Restrictions can be placed on the manufacturing, placing on the market, including online sales,  and use of certain dangerous substances and mixtures and can take different forms from a total ban to severe limitations placed on their sale, such as not being allowed to be supplied to the general public.

The chemicals restricted under REACH are listed in Annex XVII of the Regulation and can be viewed here. It should be noted however that not all chemicals restricted in the EU are listed in Annex XVII of REACH, as there may be other legislative instruments in the EU ( lex specialis) that contain specific restrictions for certain applications e.g. toys, electronic equipment, food contact material etc.

Want to know how chemical risk management is interconnected under REACH ?

The following infographic available from the ECHA website gives an overview of how chemical risk management is interconnected under REACH.

See the following links for further information:

• List of current Restrictions
• List of newly proposed Restrictions under development
• List of future intended Restrictions
• How does a chemical get onto Annex XVII of REACH?
• Consultation – Have Your Say
• Further Information
• ECHA compendium of analytical methods to check compliance with Annex XVII restrictions
• Link to Forum enforcement projects relating to restrictions