List of Products Covered by REACH: An Overview

REACH restricts chemicals, heavy metals, and other harmful substances in consumer products sold in the European Union. While the REACH regulation does apply to all consumer products, there are categories for which there are higher risks or specific bans or substance restrictions in place.

Product List Creation Methodology

In this guide, we only list products:

a. That are likely to contain one or more Substances of High Concern (SVHC)

b. For which one or more restricted substances exist

What is REACH?

REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) regulate potentially harmful substances and include provisions concerning the registration, authorisation, and restriction of different substances.

REACH has different types of substance restrictions. Some substances are banned, while others are limited. Some substances or not banned or limited, but require registration in case the product contains these above a certain threshold.

Candidate List of substances of Very High Concern (SVHC)

Importers and manufacturers of products containing more than 0.1% by weight of a substance on the SVHC Candidate List should inform consumers about this upon request. They should also register the substance in the SCIP database.

Annex XVII

Substances listed in Annex XVII are subject to different limitations. REACH might some substances from being intentionally sold (e.g., asbestos) and restrict other substances concerning their concentration levels (e.g., phthalates) or weekly migration limits (e.g., nickel).

These restrictions often only apply to specific products (e.g., 0.1% by weight for phthalates in toys, and a maximum of 0.5 μg/cm²/week for nickel in watch straps).

Clothing & Textiles

REACH regulates dangerous substances in clothing and textile products to reduce the harm from prolonged exposure and contact with skin. Textile products might include heavy metals and other carcinogenic, mutagenic or reproductive toxicants, such as formaldehyde and azodyes.

For example, formaldehyde might be used to increase stain resistance in textiles, and azodyes to strengthen textile colours.

Formaldehyde is on the SVHC list. Azodyes are restricted to a maximum of 0.003% by weight in articles that might come in prolonged contact with human skin. Furthermore, REACH restricts azodyes to a maximum of 0.1% by weight if they are intended for colouring leather and textile articles.

Examples

• Polyester clothing
• Nylon clothing
• Acrylic clothing
• Rayon clothing
• Wool woven products
• Knitwear products

Bags & Luggage

Bags and luggage may contain REACH-regulated chemicals and substances such as the following:

• Azodyes
• Perfluorohexane-1-sulphonic acid and its salts (PFHxS)

Importers and manufacturers may use azodyes to improve the overall appearance of bags or luggage. Water and stain-repellent chemicals for luggage may contain PFHxS.

We discussed azodyes restrictions in the previous section. PFHxS is an SVHC, as ECHA considers it a persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) substance.

Examples

• Handbags
• Briefcases
• Purses

Toys and Childcare Articles

Toys and childcare articles may contain several REACH-regulated chemicals and substances such as the following:

• Phthalates
• Azodyes
• PAHs

Toys and childcare products with materials based on plastic or rubber might contain certain phthalates (e.g., DIBP, DBP, BBP, DEHP) that are restricted to a maximum of 0.1% by weight.

Annex XVII to REACH restricts some uses of azodyes in childcare articles and toys to a maximum of 0.003% by weight.

Rubber or plastic components of toys, including activity toys, may contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). REACH restricts PAHs to a maximum of 0.00005% of the toy’s weight.

Examples

• Nappies
• Leather toys
• Toys that incorporate leather garments
• Textile toys
• Toys that include textile garments
• Plastic toys
• Rubber toys
• Towels

Watches

Watches and their accessories, such as straps and tighteners, may contain REACH-regulated chemicals and substances, such as the following:

• Azodyes
• Heavy metals (cadmium, chromium VI, lead, nickel)
• Polycyclic-aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)

According to Annex XVII, metal parts of wristwatches may contain a maximum of 0.01% by weight of cadmium and less than 0.05% by weight of lead.

Wristwatch straps may contain nickel if the release rate is less than 0.5 μg/cm²/week and chromium VI in leather if the concentration is less than 0.0003% of the total weight.

Rubber or plastic components of wristwatch straps may contain PAHs. REACH restricts the use of PAHs to a maximum of 0.0001% of the component’s weight.

Examples

• Wristwatches
• Wristwatch straps
• Watch strap tighteners

Footwear

Footwear may contain REACH-regulated chemicals and substances, such as the following:

• Azodyes
• PAHs

Importers and manufacturers of footwear might enhance the appearance of their products by using azodyes, which are restricted by REACH, as already mentioned.

Plastic or rubber components of footwear may contain PAHs, which are restricted in footwear to a maximum of 0.0001% by weight.

Examples

• Footwear with plastic components
• Footwear with rubber components
• Leather footwear

Jewellery

Different types of jewellery, such as necklaces, earrings, and bracelets, might contain metals such as gold, platinum, silver, and stainless steel.

While the metals mentioned above are outside the scope of REACH, restricted substances (e.g. nickel, chromium VI) are often added to jewellery and accessory materials to improve their appearance and durability. As such, jewellery products also need to comply with REACH to assess the presence of potential substances.

Examples

• Necklaces
• Rings
• Earrings
• Bracelets

Equipment and Machinery

Equipment and machinery, including mechanical appliances and electronic equipment, may contain REACH-regulated chemicals and substances, such as the following:

• Cadmium
• Phthalates (e.g., DIBP, DEHP, BBP, DBP)
• PAHs

REACH bans the usage of cadmium plating on equipment and machinery for purposes such as:

• Printing and book-binding
• production of furniture and other products

Equipment and machinery, or surface coatings and finishes for those products, may contain phthalates to a maximum of 0.1% by weight.

Additionally, extender oils may contain PAHs. REACH restricts PAHs to a maximum of 0.0001% by weight for the production of tyres or tyre parts for vehicles that include the following:

• Forestry tractors
• Tractor trailers
• Interchangeable towed machinery

Examples

• Furniture equipment and machinery
• Printing and book-binding machinery

Electronics

REACH regulates the amount of lead and other heavy metals, such as nickel and mercury, often used in conductive wiring. Batteries, solder, coating, and other parts might also contain heavy metals.

Furthermore, REACH also restricts chemicals (e.g phthalates) that might be found in components such as plastic casings used in the electronics industry.

Therefore, electronic products fall under the scope of the REACH regulation.

Examples

• Mobile phones
• Smoke alarms
• Remote controls
• Computers monitors
• Televisions
• Keyboards and mouses

Furniture

REACH applies to furniture, including wooden furniture, leather furniture, and plastic furniture. The reason is that furniture products might release certain types of restricted pollutants (e.g. formaldehyde) and contain certain heavy metals or chemicals in additives, paints and coating.

For example, the decorations of bed frames and headboards may contain lead and cadmium, plastic furniture may contain phthalates to increase flexibility, and stabiliser reagents often contain methoxy acetic acid.

Examples

• Wooden furniture
• Leather furniture
• Metal furniture
• Plastic furniture

Kitchen Products

Kitchen products may contain REACH-restricted chemicals and substances such as the following:

• Heavy metals (cadmium, lead)
• PAHs
• Phthalates

Importers and manufacturers of some kitchen products (e.g. cutlery) may use heavy metals such as cadmium and lead in their products.

The rubber or plastic components of household utensils, such as coffee machines or cutlery, may contain PAHs, which are restricted to a maximum of 0.0001% by weight.

Kitchen products may also contain phthalates such as DIBP and DBP. REACH restricts these phthalates to a maximum of 0.1% by weight.

Examples

• Refrigerators
• Cutlery
• Coffee machines

Pet Products

Pet products, such as pet toys, pet leashes, and pet bowls, might contain a certain amount of REACH-regulated substances. For example, the manufacturing process of pet bowls may result in the addition of heavy metals.

As another example, pet toys, and pet leashes might contain azodyes. REACH excludes pet food and food additives, as other specific legislations cover them.

Examples

• Pet toys
• Pet clippers
• Pet scissors
• Pet leashes
• Pet collars
• Pet bowls

Sports Accessories

REACH also applies to sports accessories such as basketballs, badminton rackets, and baseballs. For example, the manufacturing process of sports balls might result in the addition of lead and mercury.

In general, many sports accessories might contain REACH-restricted substances. As another example, the colourant used in badminton shuttlecocks and the additives added to the coating of pneumatic mattresses might contain regulated chemicals (e.g. PAHs).

Examples

• Yoga mats
• Diving suits
• Basketballs
• Pneumatic mattresses
• Baseballs
• Shuttlecocks

Stationery Accessories

REACH also regulates stationery accessories such as pencils, erasers, and staples to reduce prolonged exposure to hazardous substances.

Furthermore, stationery accessories such as staples and pencils may contain heavy metals such as lead and mercury; this is especially important as the ink might come into contact with human skin.

Examples

• Staples
• Pencils
• Paper shredders
• Rulers
• Erasers