REACH/CLP tips for users of chemicals : about chemicals of concern.
Date: 2016-12-01
Institutions: European Chemicals Agency
Subjects: chemical industry, chemical product, product safety, toxic substance

About CHEMICALS OF CONCERN 
REACH/CLP tips for users of chemicals

ECHA-16-A-14-EN 

ED-06-16-040-EN-N  

ISBN: 978-92-9495-552-4  

DOI: 10.2823/752252

A key policy objective of the REACH regulation is to encourage the substitution of chemicals of 
concern by less hazardous alternative substances or processes. This page describes the regulatory risk 
management processes in REACH and CLP that support that policy. 

Authorities identify chemicals 
of potential concern and the 
risk management options. Their 
activities are listed in PACT

Identify chemicals of 
potential concern

Include in Public 
Activities 
Coordination Tool 
(PACT)

Perform Risk 
management option 
analysis (RMOA)

Authorities prepare dossiers 
to initiate a regulatory risk 
management measure.  Their 
intentions are listed in the 
Registry of Intentions (RoI)

Dossiers  are submitted by 
authorities for regulatory action 
- CLH, SVHC or restriction. These 
are open to public consultation 
before  a decision is made

SVHC’s are put on the Candidate 
List. Following prioritisation 
and public consultation, it may 
be decided that any use of the 
substance must be authorised

Prepare Dossiers 
Place on Registry of 
Intentions 
(RoI)

Harmonised 
Classification 
and Labelling                   

(CLH)

Identification 
as Substance of 
Very High Concern      

(SVHC)

Restriction

Candidate List 
(CL) for inclusion in
Authorisation List 

Authorisation

Decision processes involve ECHA’s committees, Member States and the Commission

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR A COMPANY THAT USES CHEMICALS?

• Know the regulatory status and be proactive in
preparing for change and in promoting the safe
use of chemicals onsite.

• Be aware of the impact this could have on your

company’s operations 

• Check that you use substances in line with any

applicable restriction or authorisation

• Apply for authorisation if your supplier does 
not apply or include your use but you need to
continue using the substance

• Contact your suppliers if necessary, to ensure
they are aware and taking appropriate action

•

•

Investigate substituting any chemicals of
concern you use with safer alternatives

• Participate in public consultations, to ensure 
that decisions are based on the best available
information

If you produce or import articles, you have
obligations if an SVHC on the Candidate
List is incorporated into those articles. At 
concentrations above 0.1% (w/w), inform
customers regarding safe use and, if required,
notify ECHA

annankatu 18, p.o. box 400, fi-00121 helsinki, finland  |  echa.europa.euDOWNSTREAM USERS 
 
 
 
WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION ...about CHEMICALS OF CONCERN?     

Downstream
users webpage

•  For information on how chemicals of concern are addressed, see  

http://echa.europa.eu/addressing-chemicals-of-concern

Info on chemicals

EUROPEAN CHEMICAL AGENCY

Chemicals
of concern

•  For ideas on substitution:  http://www.echa.europa.eu/regulations/

substituting-hazardous-chemicals

Chemicals
in our life

About us

News & events

Support (REACH)

•  For a perspective on the role chemicals play in our lives: http://www.

echa.europa.eu/chemicals-in-our-life

•  For a presentation you can use on chemicals of concern:  http://echa.
europa.eu/regulations/reach/downstream-users/presentations-for-
downstream-users

annankatu 18, p.o. box 400, fi-00121 helsinki, finland  |  echa.europa.eu