REACH Regulation

REACH is the EU Regulation EC No. 1907/2006 that controls the production and use of chemical substances, and their potential impacts on human health and the environment.

What is REACH?

REACH stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals. It is the European Union’s main law on chemicals - EC No. 1907/2006 - that has been in force since 2007. REACH replaced the former legislative framework for chemicals in the EU.

Chemicals are present in all aspects of our daily life — from paints and cleaning products to clothing, furniture, and even toys.
Therefore, the 3 main objectives of REACH are:

Protect human health and the environment from the risks of hazardous substances.
Promote alternative testing methods for hazard assessment of chemical substances.
Provide the free circulation of chemicals within the internal EU market while enhancing competitiveness and innovation in the chemical industry.

How does REACH work?

One of the key principles of REACH is that the burden of proof lies with the companies. Manufacturers and importers must ensure that the substances they produce, place on the market, or use are safe. REACH sets out clear rules and procedures to manage chemical risks effectively:

The 4 pillars of REACH:

Registration
Companies must register substances they produce or import in quantities of 1 tonne or more per year by submitting detailed information on their properties and uses.
Evaluation
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and EU Member States assess the submitted data and may request additional information or testing.
Authorisation
Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) require specific authorisation before they can be used.
Restriction
Certain chemicals that pose unacceptable risks can be restricted or even banned entirely within the EU.

What does REACH mean for businesses and sustainability?

Companies must know what substances they manufacture, import, use, or sell. They are required to provide accurate Safety Data Sheets (SDS) to ensure safe handling and use. In addition, businesses must stay informed about updates on changes to the Candidate List of SVHCs and on new restrictions or authorisation requirements.

REACH plays a key role in the transition to a more sustainable and toxic-free economy and future. By limiting the use of hazardous substances and encouraging safer alternatives, REACH supports the goals of the European Green Deal, including the ambition for a toxic-free environment by 2050.

All Sentera products are compliant to EU REACH regulation 1907/2006/EU.

Download the Sentera REACH certificate here.

What is the difference with RoHS?

While REACH and RoHS are both regulations from the European Union focussing on chemical safety, they have different scopes, objectives, and applications.

The key differences between both regulations are summarised below:

REACH	RoHS
Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals	Restriction of Hazardous Substances
EU Regulation (EC No. 1907/2006)	EU Directive 2011/65/EU (RoHS 2)
Protect human health and the environment from all chemical risks	Limit hazardous substances specifically in electrical and electronic equipment
All chemical substances including those in products (articles), mixtures, and raw materials	Only electrical and electronic equipment
Applies to all industries using or placing substances on the EU market (e.g. manufacturers, importers, downstream users)	Applies to manufacturers, importers, and distributors of electronics
Thousands of substances; SVHCs (Substances of Very High Concern) are closely monitored	10 specific hazardous substances (like lead, cadmium, mercury, phthalates, etc.)
Registration, evaluation by ECHA, possible authorisation or restriction	Mandatory compliance for CE marking; testing and documentation required
Focus on substance safety and usage across the product life cycle	Focus on material content limits in finished electrical and electronic equipment products
Not directly linked to CE marking	CE marking required for RoHS compliance

REACH is broader and applies to almost all products and industries. It regulates the use and handling of chemicals throughout their lifecycle.
RoHS, on the other hand, is narrower in scope, focusing on limiting specific hazardous substances in electronic products to reduce environmental impact and health risks.

RoHS does not affect the application of REACH, and vice versa, with regard to the restriction of substances in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE).
When overlaps occur, the strongest restriction (i.e. the lowest maximum concentration) should be applied. Furthermore, exemptions from the substance restrictions in RoHS may not be granted if they result in a weakening of the environmental and human health protection afforded by REACH.

Sentera
Environmental protection and resource preservation have always been central to Sentera’s corporate policy as an innovative leader in HVAC control solutions. We are committed to designing eco-friendly products and using environmentally sustainable production processes.

Sentera strictly complies with all legal directives on occupational safety and environmental protection throughout manufacturing. Our advanced products are designed to pose no health risks when used as intended and to minimize environmental impact.

All Sentera products are compliant to EU REACH regulation 1907/2006/EU and EU RoHS 3 directive 2015/863/EU.