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Restrictions

Any substance that poses an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment that is deemed to require EU-wide action can be restricted under REACH. Restrictions can be placed on the manufacturing, placing on the market, including online sales,  and use of certain dangerous substances and mixtures and can take different forms from a total ban to severe limitations placed on their sale, such as not being allowed to be supplied to the general public.

The chemicals restricted under REACH are listed in Annex XVII of the Regulation and can be viewed here. It should be noted however that not all chemicals restricted in the EU are listed in Annex XVII of REACH, as there may be other legislative instruments in the EU ( lex specialis) that contain specific restrictions for certain applications e.g. toys, electronic equipment, food contact material etc.

How does a chemical get onto Annex XVII of REACH?

Articles 68 and 69 of REACH provide for the process of introducing a new restriction or amending a current one, and proposals for such restrictions can be prepared by Member States or by ECHA on request of the Commission. The proposal, in the form of a dossier, must demonstrate that there is a risk to human health or the environment that needs to be addressed at EU-wide level.

In addition to this route of including a substance in Annex XVII, the sale and use by the general public/consumers of substances that are classified as carcinogen, mutagen or reproductive toxins (categories 1A and 1B) is prohibited, and their presence in consumer articles may also be restricted.

Interested parties have an opportunity to comment during different stages of public consultation within the process and ECHA Committees provide opinions on proposed restrictions before a final decision on whether to include the substance in Annex XVII or not is taken by the European Commission, in consultation with Member States.

Return to Restrictions webpage

Want to know how chemical risk management is interconnected under REACH ?

The following infographic available from the ECHA website gives an overview of how chemical risk management is interconnected under REACH.

See the following links for further information: