How are RoHS and REACH related?

REACH is a general regulation and stands for

What is the General Product Safety Directive
(GPSD)?
All products sold in the EU must be safe for
consumer to use, even if no specific directive,
regulation or standard exist for the product in
question. This is also the purpose of the General
Product Safety Directive (GPSD).
The GPSD aims to ensure the general safety of
products before their placement in the EU market.
Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, Restriction of
Chemicals, and addresses the production and use of
chemical substances and their potential impact on
human health and the environment. REACH is
monitored by the ECHA and deals with 197
Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) currently.
REACH controls all chemicals that might be used to
manufacture the product and chemicals used during
manufacture.
Substances on the list have been identified as being
carcinogenic, mutagenic, reprotoxic, bio-
accumulative and toxic, or as endocrine disruptors.

The directive sets out the general principles and

regulatory framework for producers (e.g.
manufacturers, importers) and distributors. It applies
to consumer products, that are either new, used, or
refurbished

1. If a product complies with relevant harmonised

standards, then it is presumed to comply with the
directive’s safety requirements.

REACH - an acronym for European Commission

Regulation Number 1907/2006 concerning the
Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and
Restriction of CHemicals and amendments.

Registration: Chemical producers are required to

register safety data for all chemicals produced.
Evaluation: Experts from member states and the
European Agency evaluate safety data for higher
volume chemicals and other chemicals of concern.
Authorization: Chemicals that are "substances of
very high concern" (SVHC) are to be phased out and
replaced with safer alternative chemicals.
Restriction: Chemicals may be completely banned or
some uses of the chemicals can be restricted.