REACHROHS

REACHROHS is a term used to describe an integrated approach to chemical compliance that combines elements of the European Union's REACH Regulation (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) and the RoHS Directive (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) as they apply to electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) and related supply chains. The concept aims to streamline compliance by aligning substance registration, restriction assessment, and product-level declarations under a coordinated workflow.

Regulatory context: REACH requires registration of substances manufactured or imported above threshold amounts, evaluation of hazards, and restrictions on certain substances. RoHS restricts the use of specific hazardous substances in EEE and is implemented through national measures and harmonized lists. REACHROHS seeks to harmonize these requirements for parts, components and finished products to reduce duplication of effort and improve data consistency.

Core elements: mapping of substances across REACH and RoHS lists, shared data management for substance identity, substance declarations in bills of materials, supplier declarations and chain-of-custody documentation, testing and analytical verification, substitution planning for restricted substances, and ongoing monitoring for updates to lists (such as SVHCs) and thresholds.

Benefits and challenges: Potential benefits include reduced administrative burden, improved traceability of chemical content, and clearer compliance pathways across product lifecycles. Challenges include keeping up with frequent regulatory updates, cross-border considerations, and the need for interoperable data formats and robust supplier collaboration.

See also: REACH; RoHS; ECHA; SVHC; electrical and electronic equipment.