Guidance on REACH
Guidance on REACH
The list below contains all the Guidance Documents which are available, or will be available, on this website. These documents have been developed with the participation of many stakeholders: Industry, Member States and NGOs. The objective of these documents is to facilitate the implementation of REACH by describing good practice on how to fulfil the obligations.
Some of these documents have been or will be translated into official EU languages. You can access the translations from this webpage: use the language menu on the top right corner of the page.
Guidance for Annex V
- Reference name:
- Guidance for Annex V
- Description:
- This document describes the exemptions from the obligation to register in accordance with Article 2(7)(b) of the REACH Regulation.
- download full PDF document (28/11/2012)
Guidance for Downstream Users
- Reference name:
- Guidance for Downstream Users
- Description:
- This document describes the roles and obligations of downstream users, and advises them on how to prepare for the implementation for REACH.
- download full PDF document (21/10/2014)
- Guidance in a nutshell
- download full PDF document
- Additional information on the ECHA website
- Read more
Guidance for identification and naming of substances under REACH and CLP
- Reference name:
- Guidance on substance identification
- Description:
- This document describes how to name and identify a substance under REACH and CLP.
download full PDF document (19/12/2023) - Guidance in a nutshell
- download full PDF document
- Appendix for nanoforms
- download full PDF document (1/2022)
- Additional information on the ECHA website
- Read more
Guidance for monomers and polymers
- Reference name:
- Guidance on polymers
- Description:
- This document describes the specific provisions for polymers and monomers under REACH.
- download full PDF document (21/02/2023)
- Additional information on the ECHA website
- Read more
Guidance for the preparation of an Annex XV dossier for restrictions
- Reference name:
- Guidance on Annex XV for restrictions
- Description:
- This document describes how the authorities (Member States Competent Authorities or the Agency on request from the Commission) can prepare an Annex XV dossier to propose a restriction under REACH.
- download full PDF document ( 06/2007 )
- Additional information on the ECHA website
- Read more
Guidance on Dossier and Substance Evaluation
This Guidance document has been made obsolete and removed from the ECHA website. It has been replaced by current and updated information available on the ECHA Evaluation webpages accessible directly via the following links: http://echa.europa.eu/regulations/reach/evaluation and http://echa.europa.eu/about-us/the-way-we-work/procedures-and-policies/public-procedures (30/01/2014)
Guidance on inclusion of substances in Annex XIV
- This guidance document has been withdrawn.
The information related to the identification of substances of very high concern, priority setting, and the inclusion of a substance on Annex XIV can be found on the following web pages: - Authorisation
Role of the Member State Committee in the authorisation process
General approach for prioritisation of SVHCs for Inclusion in the list of substances subject to Authorisation used in Recommendations[PDF] [EN]
General approach for preparation of draft Annex XIV entries for substances to be included in Annex XIV[PDF] [EN]
Guidance on information requirements and chemical safety assessment
- Reference name:
- IR&CSA Guidance
- Description:
- This guidance describes the information requirements under REACH with regard to substance properties, exposure, use and risk management measures, in the context of the chemical safety assessment.
- More
Guidance on intermediates
- Reference name:
- Guidance on intermediates
- Description:
- This document describes when and how the specific provisions for the registration of intermediates under REACH can be used.
- download full PDF document (10/2022)
- Additional information on the ECHA website
- Read more [PDF]
Guidance on priority setting for evaluation
This Guidance document has been made obsolete and removed from the ECHA website. It has been replaced by current and updated information available on the ECHA Evaluation webpages accessible directly via the following links: http://echa.europa.eu/regulations/reach/evaluation and
http://echa.europa.eu/about-us/the-way-we-work/procedures-and-policies/public-procedures (30/01/2014)
Guidance on registration
- Reference name:
- Guidance on registration
- Description:
- This document describes when and how to register a substance under REACH.
- download full PDF document (08/2021)
- Appendix for nanoforms
- download full PDF document (01/2022 )
- Additional information on the ECHA website
- Read more
Guidance on requirements for substances in articles
- Reference name:
- Guidance for articles
- Description:
- This document assists producers and importers of articles in identifying whether they have obligations under REACH; in particular in relation to registration and notification according to Article 7, and in relation to article supply chain communication according to Article 33.
- download full PDF document (28/06/2017)
- Guidance in a nutshell
- download full PDF document
- Additional information on the ECHA website
- Read more
Guidance on Scientific Research and Development (SR&D) and Product and Process Orientated Research and Development (PPORD)
- Reference name:
- Guidance on PPORD
- Description:
- This document describes specific provisions under REACH for substances manufactured, imported or used in scientific Research and Development (SR&D) and Product and Process Orientated Research and Development (PPORD).
- download full PDF document (19/10/2017 )
- Guidance in a Nutshell
- download PDF document (19/10/2017)
- Additional information on the ECHA website
- Read more
Guidance on Socio-Economic Analysis - Restrictions
- Reference name:
- Guidance on Socio-Economic Analysis - Restrictions
- Description:
- This document assists Member State Competent Authorities and the Agency (on a request from the Commission) in preparing and using a socio-economic analysis when developing an Annex XV dossier for Restriction. Further, it assists interested parties in preparing a socio-economic analysis or providing information in order to contribute to one.
- download full PDF document(05/2008)
- Additional information on the ECHA website
- Read more
Guidance on Socio-Economic Analysis – Authorisation
- Reference name:
- Guidance on Socio-Economic Analysis - Authorisation
- Description:
- This document assists applicants making an application for an authorisation to prepare a socio-economic analysis.
- download full PDF document (31/01/2011)
- Additional information on the ECHA website
- Read more
Guidance on the communication of information on the risks and safe use of chemicals
- Reference name:
- Guidance on Risk Communication
- Description:
- This guidance document is intended to be used mainly by Member State Competent Authorities (MSCAs) in communicating about the risks of chemicals, specifically in the context of the REACH Regulation.
- download full PDF document (12/2010)
- Additional information on the ECHA website
- Read more
Guidance on the compilation of safety data sheets
- Reference name:
- Guidance on safety data sheets
- Description:
- This guidance provides information on issues to consider when compiling a Safety Data Sheet (an SDS), details of the requirements for information to be included within each Section of an SDS - in particular detailing the changes arising from the different revisions of Annex II of REACH and transition periods for implementation of these changes. It also gives general information on for which substances and mixtures SDSs needs to be provided and by whom.
download full PDF document (16/12/2020) - Guidance in a nutshell
- download full PDF document
- Additional information on the ECHA website
- Read more
Guidance on the preparation of an Annex XV dossier for the identification of substances of very high concern
- Reference name:
- Guidance on identification of SVHC
- Description:
- This document describes how the authorities (Member States Competent Authorities or the Agency) can prepare an Annex XV dossier to identify a substance of very high concern.
- download full PDF document (19/10/2018)
- Additional information on the ECHA website
- Read more
Guidance on the preparation of an application for authorisation
- Reference name:
- Guidance on authorisation application
- Description:
- This document describes how to prepare an application for authorisation and provides guidance on analysis of the alternatives and substitution plan. It also describes how third parties may prepare and submit information on alternatives.
- download full PDF document (January 2021)
- Additional information on the ECHA website
- Read more
Guidance on waste and recovered substances
- Reference name:
- Guidance on waste and recovered substances
- Description:
- This document describes under which conditions legal entities recovering substances from waste can benefit from the exemption laid down in article 2(7)(d) of REACH and elaborates the obligation to share information in the supply chain as put forward in title IV of REACH.
- download full PDF document (05/2010)
- Additional information on the ECHA website
- Read more
Guidance on data sharing
- Reference name:
- Guidance on data sharing
- Description:
- This document describes data sharing principles and mechanisms for substances under REACH. It provides advice and practical recommendations to help companies meet their obligations to share data and costs. The document also describes Confidential Business Information, Intellectual Property Rights and Competition Law issues in the context of data sharing.
- download full PDF document (December 2023)
- Additional information on the ECHA website
- Read more