REACH
The EU’s main chemicals law. For fashion brands it sets limits on harmful substances in fabrics, dyes, prints and trims, and requires you to share information when a product contains a substance of very high concern.
What it means for fashion brands
REACH (Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006) applies to every product placed on the EU market, including clothing, footwear and accessories. You don’t need to register chemicals to sell finished garments, but you are responsible for what’s in them. Two parts of REACH matter most for apparel.
1. Restricted substances (Annex XVII)
Annex XVII lists substances that are banned or limited in consumer products. The ones that come up most in fashion are:
- Azo dyes that can release certain cancer-causing amines
- Nickel in metal parts that touch the skin, such as buttons, rivets and zips
- Phthalates in plastisol prints and PVC trims
- PAHs in rubber and plastic parts
- Carcinogenic and toxic substances in textiles and footwear, including limits on formaldehyde
- PFHxA and related PFAS used for water and stain repellency
If a garment exceeds a limit, it can’t be sold in the EU. That’s why testing is planned by material and component, not just the main fabric.
2. Substances of very high concern (SVHCs)
The Candidate List names substances of very high concern. If any part of your product contains one above 0.1% by weight, you must tell your business customers, answer consumer requests within 45 days and notify the product to ECHA’s SCIP database.
How we help
We map the REACH risks across your range, tell you which components really need testing, coordinate tests through our partner labs and keep your declarations ready for retailers and authorities.