Automate REACH Compliance
Automatically check your products for over 250 Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC). With Substantio, you maintain an overview of the REACH regulation – in real-time and throughout the entire supply chain.
How Substantio Supports Your REACH Compliance
Upload your bills of materials – the software checks all components against current regulations and SVHC (Substances of Very High Concern) from the Candidate List. Within seconds, you'll see which parts contain critical substances and where action may be needed.
As soon as ECHA publishes new substances, the new regulations are integrated into your Substantio system. Through the integrated material database, your products are compared with the new substances and you receive a report from the software.
Your suppliers can digitally upload REACH declarations of conformity and provide material data transparently. All data is stored centrally, versioned, and traceable.
Conformity reports for customers and authorities, compliance documentation according to Article 33 REACH, audit-proof documentation – all with one click.
Keep track: Which products are compliant, where is action needed, which supplier inquiries are open?
What is REACH?
The REACH Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006 stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals. Since 2007, REACH has regulated EU-wide how chemical substances may be handled to protect people and the environment.
The Basic Principle: "No data, no market"
Only those who fully register their chemical substances and can demonstrate safety information are allowed to place them on the EU market. Those who don’t provide data stay out – this applies to manufacturers, importers, and all actors in the supply chain.
The SVHC Candidate List – The Heart of REACH
At the center of the REACH regulation is the Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC). This list currently includes over 250 chemicals that can have serious impacts on health or the environment.
Important: The SVHC list is updated twice annually by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), and sometimes outside the regular cycle. What is compliant today may be subject to notification tomorrow.
Key Facts at a Glance:
- Valid EU-wide for all manufacturers, importers, and downstream users
- Over 250 SVHCs on the Candidate List (as of 2025)
- Updates twice annually (usually June and December, sometimes outside the regular cycle)
- Notification obligation from 0.1% mass fraction of an SVHC in an article
Who is Affected by REACH?
REACH Affects More Companies Than You Think
The REACH regulation doesn’t only apply to the chemical industry – it extends through nearly all sectors and affects everyone who manufactures, imports, or places products on the EU market.
These Industries are Particularly Affected:
- Electronics industry & OEMs – circuit boards, cables, plastic housings, seals
- Automotive & mechanical engineering – vehicle components, lubricants, paints, coatings
- Plastics & chemical industry – polymers, additives, pigments, plasticizers
- Consumer goods – textiles, furniture, toys with chemical coatings
- Importers of non-EU goods – full REACH responsibility when importing into the EU
The 0.1% Threshold – The Decisive Limit
As soon as an SVHC substance is contained in an article at more than 0.1% by weight, the information obligation applies. You must inform your customers and, since 2021, also make a notification to the SCIP database.
SVHC Candidate List: Over 250 Substances in Focus
The SVHC Candidate List is a central instrument of the REACH regulation. It includes chemicals classified as substances of very high concern due to their properties and which must therefore be communicated within the supply chain.
Your Challenges with REACH Compliance
Complex Supply Chains
Products consist of dozens or hundreds of components – from various suppliers, from different countries. Each part must be checked for SVHCs.
Constant Changes
New substances are added twice a year. What was uncritical yesterday may be subject to notification today.
Data Management and Documentation
REACH requires seamless documentation.
Supplier Inquiries and Tracking
Suppliers must be queried regularly – with every list change. This means: hundreds of emails, reminders, follow-ups.
Risk of Fines and Product Recalls
Violations of REACH can result in fines of up to several hundred thousand euros, product recalls, sales bans, and reputational damage.
How Substantio Helps with the SCIP Database
Since January 5, 2021, there has been an EU-wide notification obligation for articles containing SVHC substances (≥ 0.1%). Companies must report affected products through ECHA’s SCIP database. The database serves the circular economy and ensures that hazardous substances are known during recycling and disposal.
Substantio supports you in identifying articles subject to notification and prepares the required data for the SCIP notification. The software creates your SCIP dossiers and automatically uploads the notification to the SCIP database.
Ready for Automated REACH Compliance?
With Substantio, you keep track – of all regulations, all products, along the entire supply chain. Automated, current, legally secure.
Important Links & Official Resources
For current information on the REACH regulation, we recommend the following official sources:
FAQ's
When do I have to pass on REACH information to my customers?
The information obligation applies as soon as an SVHC substance is contained in an article at more than 0.1% by weight. You must then:
- Inform B2B customers unsolicited within 45 days of delivery
- Provide consumers with free information within 45 days upon request
- The information must include the name of the substance, safe use, and any other relevant data if applicable.
What happens when a new substance is added to the SVHC list?
Twice a year (usually June and January), ECHA updates the Candidate List. When a new substance is added:
- You must check whether it is contained in your products
- Query your suppliers again if necessary
- Fulfill the information obligation to customers
- Make a SCIP notification (if the threshold is exceeded)
With Substantio, your products are automatically checked against the updated list – you receive immediate notification if action is needed.
Does REACH also apply to imported products from non-EU countries?
Yes, absolutely! Anyone who imports products from third countries (e.g., China, USA, India) into the EU assumes full REACH responsibility – as if you were the manufacturer. This means:
- You must ensure that all substances are registered (if applicable)
- You bear the information and notification obligation
- You are liable for violations
Tip: Clarify REACH conformity with your suppliers before import – subsequent corrections are expensive and time-consuming.
What are SVHCs and why are they problematic?
SVHC stands for “Substances of Very High Concern.” A substance ends up on the Candidate List if it exhibits at least one of these properties:
Carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic to reproduction (CMR substances)
- Persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) – accumulates in the environment and organisms
- Very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB)
- Endocrine disrupting
- Other concerning properties with serious impacts
These substances may eventually be banned, restricted, or only used with official authorization.
Do I have to register all substances in my products with ECHA?
No, not automatically. The registration obligation only applies if you:
- Manufacture or import chemical substances
- In quantities of more than 1 ton per year
If you manufacture or import finished articles (e.g., machinery, electronic devices), you don’t have to register the substances yourself.
Exception: If substances are released from your articles under normal conditions of use (e.g., fragrances from textiles), a registration obligation may also exist here.
What are the differences between the SVHC Candidate List, Annex XVII, and the Authorization List (Annex XIV)?
- SVHC Candidate List: This is where substances identified as particularly concerning end up. The information and notification obligation applies to these (from 0.1%).
- Restriction List (Annex XVII): Substances or mixtures of substances that are restricted for a specific application. Dimension can also play a role here.
- Authorization List (Annex XIV): Substances transferred from the Candidate List to the Authorization List may only be used after a specific deadline (the “Sunset Date”) with official authorization.
The path is therefore: Candidate List → Authorization List → possibly complete ban.
How often is the SVHC list updated?
ECHA updates the SVHC Candidate List twice a year, typically:
- In June (usually mid-year)
- In January (at year-end)
With each update, several new substances can be added. Companies should check after each update whether they are affected – and react in time.
What does a REACH violation cost?
Fines vary by member state and severity of violation. In Germany, violations of the REACH regulation can be penalized with fines of up to €50,000 or more. In addition:
- Product recalls with high costs
- Sales bans and delivery delays
- Reputational damage with customers and business partners
- Possibly criminal consequences for intentional violations
Prevention is significantly cheaper than remediation!
Does REACH also apply to small businesses and start-ups?
Yes! REACH applies to all companies, regardless of size or industry – as soon as you manufacture, import, or place products on the EU market. There are no exceptions for small businesses.
But: Smaller companies can benefit from simplified regulations, e.g., for registration (staggered deadlines depending on tonnage). The information obligation also remains – but digital tools like Substantio can significantly reduce the effort.
For whom is Substantio the right solution?
Substantio is ideal for companies with complex supply chains that need transparency and control. The software facilitates product and material compliance processes for all manufacturers or those placing goods on the market.
The people who benefit from Substantio software are primarily:
- Compliance managers who want to automate their REACH processes
- Product managers who need to quickly know if their products are compliant
- Purchasers who need to systematically query and monitor suppliers
- Quality managers who want to document in a legally secure manner
- Corporate Social Responsibility managers for creating ESG/LCA analyses and environmental reports.
What role does the SCIP database play in REACH?
The SCIP database (Substances of Concern In Products) has been mandatory since January 2021 and records information about articles containing SVHCs, so these substances are known during recycling, repair, and disposal.
