REACH Testing (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals) refers to a comprehensive EU regulation (EC 1907/2006) governing chemicals and downstream articles. It aims to protect human health and the environment and facilitate the safe use of chemicals. The regulation entered into force formally on June 1, 2007 with a wide coverage. It applies not only to chemicals themselves, but also to consumer goods and industrial articles containing chemicals. It constitutes a critical compliance requirement for enterprises exporting products to the EU market.

The REACH Regulation takes "Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals" as its core framework, covering the following key procedures:

1. Registration
   Manufacturers or importers are required to submit registration dossiers to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) for substances (pure substances or substances contained in mixtures) with an annual production or import volume exceeding 1 tonne. The dossier shall include physicochemical properties, toxicity data, intended uses and risk control measures to demonstrate safe use of the substance.

• Registration is implemented in phases. The scope of required test data and documentation varies according to production volume (1 tonne/year, 10 tonnes/year, 100 tonnes/year, 1000 tonnes/year, above 10000 tonnes/year) and risk classification.

2. Evaluation
   ECHA or competent authorities of EU Member States evaluate registered substances, including:

• Dossier Evaluation: verifying the completeness and compliance of registration dossiers;

• Substance Evaluation: assessing whether a substance poses risks to health or the environment and requesting supplementary test data where necessary.

3. Authorization
   Enterprises must apply for authorization to continue using substances identified as Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) with available alternatives. Substances without granted authorization are prohibited from being manufactured, imported or used within the EU market.

4. Restriction
   If a substance presents unacceptable risks to human health or the environment, the EU may impose restrictions to ban or limit its production, placing on the market and use (e.g. restrictions on lead in paints).

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Within the REACH Regulation, Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) constitute the core regulated objects, mainly including the following categories:

• Carcinogenic, Mutagenic and Reprotoxic substances (CMR);

• Persistent, Bioaccumulative and Toxic substances (PBT);

• very Persistent and very Bioaccumulative substances (vPvB);

• Other substances of equivalent level of concern (e.g. endocrine disruptors).

The SVHC Candidate List is dynamically updated by ECHA (As of May 2024, the list has been updated to the 29th batch containing a total of 235 substances). Enterprises shall track revisions to the list and fulfil the following obligations:

1. Communication of Information: If the SVHC concentration in an article exceeds 0.1% (w/w), information on safe use shall be provided to customers and consumers;

2. Notification Obligation: If the SVHC concentration in an article exceeds 0.1% and the annual export volume is above 1 tonne, notification shall be submitted to ECHA within six months after the substance is included in the Candidate List;

3. Supply Chain Management: Enterprises shall verify the presence and concentration of SVHCs in articles through testing or supplier declarations.