REACH step by step


​Do you want to produce, import, or trade within EU articles with chemical substance more than 1 ton/year? 
  1. Without registration, substances cannot be manufactured or imported into the EU.
  2. Authorities can ban hazardous substances if their risks are unmanageable. They can also decide to restrict a use or make it subject to a prior authorisation

Consult the procedure step by step to register your substance on www.echa,europa.eu. 

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Simplified guide 

Step 1. Identify your substance

First you need to identify your substance. You must know which molecules are inside, which chemical name (eg benzene) or the composition, which must be determined by chemical analysts.

Step 2. Pre-register & inquiry the ECHA Database

Then, you have to inquiry from ECHA ​whether a registration has already been submitted for that substance. ECHA is the EU Agency on Chemicals.

Step 3. Register your substance on REACH-IT

If the substance you want to produce, import or trade inside EU is not already registered by ECHA, you register it, via REACH-IT. You have to describe your substance and an assessment of the risks that the use of the substance may pose and how these risks should be controlled. For substance registration a fee is usually charged.

Step 4. ECHA & Member States evaluate your request

As soon as your dossier is completed and following various criteria, ECHA and the designated Member State perform the substance evaluation. A draft decision made by the EU Agency must be ​unanimously supported by the Member States and will only then become legally binding decisions.

Step 5. For high risks, you need an authorisation

If ECHA or Member States consider that your substance constitutes a risk, you need an authorisation to continue or start using and placing substances. Your substance is included in a list, waiting for an authorisation. If you will receive the authorisation for your substance, this can be limited in time. Authorities can ban hazardous substances if their risks are unmanageable. They can also decide a restriction.

Step 6. Restrictions

Restrictions on substances can be introduced if there is a risks for human health and for the environment, including articles containing substances that are in the authorisation list.

Step 7. Exemptions

Echa states that "no company is exempt from the requirements for chemical safety, but you could have exemptions from REACH and CLP when other legislation applies"