REACH Testing Services

REACH Testing Services: What They Cover and Why They Matter

A product can leave the factory looking perfectly fine and still be refused at a European port, because of a chemical nobody tested for. Cables, toys, textiles, plastics, paints and many other goods can contain substances that European law restricts or asks you to report. The rules are known as REACH, and they apply to anyone who sells chemicals, or goods containing them, in the European Union. 

REACH testing services give manufacturers, exporters and importers the lab results they need to check their products before they ship, and to answer questions from buyers and authorities. This guide explains what REACH is, what REACH testing covers and how the process works. 

What is REACH?

REACH stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals. It (Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006) is an EU regulation governing the manufacture, import, and use of chemicals, administered by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). 

• Registration: companies are required to register substances they manufacture or import when quantities exceed specified tonnage thresholds. 
• Evaluation: authorities review the data and can ask for more.
• Authorisation: the most hazardous substances need special permission to be used.
• Restriction: some substances are banned or limited in certain products.

What is REACH Testing?

REACH does not set out one test you must run. Instead, it sets limits and duties, and REACH testing is the laboratory work that shows whether a product or material meets them. The testing most companies ask for covers two things:

• SVHC screening: checking for substances of very high concern, which are listed on the Candidate List kept by ECHA.
• Restricted substances testing: checking for substances limited or banned under Annex XVII of the regulation.

Importance of REACH Testing 

The legal duty sits with the company that sells the product, and REACH compliance testing is the evidence behind it.

• Market access: products that break the rules can be stopped at the border, withdrawn from sale or recalled.
• Supply chain questions: buyers often ask suppliers for REACH declarations, and test results back them up.
• Reporting duties: if an article contains an SVHC above 0.1% by weight, the supplier has to pass that information on to customers.
• Safety: the rules exist to protect people and the environment from harmful substances.
• Brand protection: one failed batch can damage a customer relationship that took years to build.
• Fewer surprises: finding a problem in the lab is cheaper than finding it after shipment.

What Does REACH Testing Cover?

The tests depend on the product and the materials in it. These are the groups seen most often.

• Heavy metals: lead, cadmium, mercury and chromium VI in metals, plastics, coatings and textiles.
• Phthalates: plasticisers used in soft PVC, cables, toys and flooring.
• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs): found in rubber, plastic parts and some tool handles.
• Azo dyes: dyes in textiles and leather that can release restricted amines.
• Flame retardants: some are restricted in textiles, plastics and electronics.
• Nickel release: for items that touch the skin, such as jewellery and fasteners.
• SVHC substances: screening against the current Candidate List.

Products That Require REACH Testing

Any product sold in the EU can be affected, but these are the groups where chemical testing is most often requested.

• Plastics, rubber and polymer products
• Textiles, leather and footwear
• Toys and childcare products
• Electrical and electronic products, including cables
• Paints, coatings and adhesives
• Packaging and household goods
• Metal parts, fittings and jewellery

How is REACH Testing Done?

Several techniques are used, as no single instrument covers every substance. [confirm METS Ajman instruments]

• X-ray fluorescence (XRF): a quick screen for heavy metals and some other elements.
• ICP-OES or ICP-MS: accurate measurement of metals after the sample is dissolved.
• GC-MS: separates and identifies organic substances such as phthalates, PAHs and some flame retardants.
• LC-MS: used for compounds that do not suit GC, such as certain dyes and additives.
• FTIR: helps identify the plastic or rubber in a part, which guides what to test for.

How Does the REACH Testing Process Work?

1. Scope: you tell us the product, its materials and the markets it is sold in.
2. Sample selection: the parts and materials to test are chosen, often down to the individual component.
3. Testing: the lab runs the chosen screening and analysis methods.
4. Evaluation: results are compared with the legal limits and the SVHC threshold.
5. Report: you receive a report that your quality team and buyers can use.

Who Needs REACH Testing?

Manufacturers and exporters selling into the EU, importers and distributors of finished goods, brand owners and retailers, and suppliers who get REACH questionnaires from customers.

Conclusion

REACH asks one thing of every company that sells chemicals, or products containing them, in Europe: know what is in your product. REACH testing services turn that into numbers, so you can ship with confidence and answer your buyers with evidence. If you want to check a product against REACH, start by listing the materials used, the substances you need to check and the market you sell to. A laboratory can then tell you which tests fit. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the difference between REACH and RoHS testing?

RoHS covers electrical and electronic equipment only. It limits ten substances: lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, two flame retardants (PBB and PBDE) and four phthalates. REACH covers almost all products and chemicals, and its testing covers SVHC screening and the restricted substances in Annex XVII. Some substances appear in both, but the limits and scope differ. Electronics sold in the EU often need both.

2. Is REACH testing mandatory? 

REACH sets legal duties and limits but does not name a required test. The company selling the product is responsible for compliance, and testing is the usual way to show it.

3. Does REACH apply to products made outside the EU? 

Yes, if they are sold in the EU. Importers are responsible for products they bring in, so non-EU manufacturers are often asked for REACH test results.

4. Is UK REACH the same as EU REACH? 

No. The UK has its own version, called UK REACH, with separate registration and its own substance lists, so check which one applies to your market.