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What Is a REACH Declaration of Conformity?
A Guide for Manufacturers, Distributors, and Supply Chain Partners
A customer told me last week that they had been asked for a REACH Declaration of Conformity. If you work in manufacturing, electronics, or product distribution, this may be a common request, so I thought it would be a great blog post.
For many companies, this request can raise questions:
What is REACH? Why do customers need this declaration? And what information should it include?
In this article, we explain what a REACH Declaration of Conformity is, why it matters, and how businesses can obtain or provide one.
Understanding the REACH Regulation
REACH stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals, a European Union regulation governing the use of chemical substances in products.
The regulation was introduced to improve protection of human health and the environment from potential risks caused by chemicals, while also ensuring companies manage chemical safety responsibly. You can find more details on the ECHA Website or the UK HSE Website
REACH applies to a wide range of products and industries, including:
- Electronics and electrical equipment
- Consumer goods
- Packaging materials
- Industrial chemicals
- Textiles and plastics
In fact, almost any product sold in the EU that contains chemical substances may fall under REACH requirements.
What Is a REACH Declaration of Conformity?
A REACH Declaration of Conformity (DoC) is a document issued by a manufacturer or supplier stating that their product complies with the EU REACH Regulation (EC No. 1907/2006). This document is a necessity for selling products in the European Union.
In simple terms, it confirms that the product:
Regulatory compliance
Businesses must demonstrate that products placed on the EU market comply with chemical safety regulations.
Supply Chain transparency
Manufacturers and distributors rely on supplier declarations to confirm compliance across the entire supply chain.
Risk Management
REACH helps ensure that potentially hazardous substances are identified, restricted, or authorised before use.
Market Access
Without proper documentation, products may face customs delays, regulatory scrutiny, or restricted market access.
What Information Does a REACH Declaration Include?
Although formats vary, most REACH Declarations of Conformity include:
- Manufacturer or supplier name and address
- Product identification (model number or description)
- Reference to REACH Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006
- Confirmation regarding Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC)
- Compliance statement regarding REACH Annex XVII restrictions
- Date of issue and authorised signature
In many cases, the declaration states that the product does not contain SVHCs above 0.1% weight by weight, or lists any substances present above that threshold.
For an example of a Declartion of Confirmity click here
REACH and the SVHC List
One of the key aspects of REACH compliance is monitoring the SVHC Candidate List.
SVHCs are substances that may pose significant risks to human health or the environment and are therefore closely regulated.
If a product contains SVHCs above defined thresholds, suppliers must:
- Inform customers
- Provide safe-use information
- Ensure transparency in the supply chain
Because the SVHC list is updated regularly, companies often need to review and update REACH declarations periodically.
Who Is Responsible for Issuing the Declaration?
Typically, the manufacturer is responsible for issuing the REACH Declaration of Conformity.
However:
- Importers may need to verify compliance
- Distributors must ensure documentation exists before placing products on the market
- Suppliers often provide declarations to support downstream compliance requirements
In many cases, the declaration is self-certified by the manufacturer, supported by technical data or laboratory testing if required. If your product is a chemical product (substance or mixture), you need to ensure that every substance in it has been registered under EU REACH when the volume of that substance exceeds 1t/y. The best way to show compliance is to obtain a REACH registration number issued by the UK Reach (HSE) .
If your product is an article (i.e., clothes, toys, electrical appliances), you most likely need to check if your product contains any substance of very high concern (SVHC) and any substances on REACH annex XVII restricted substance list. Most of buyers probably do not want to buy any article containing a SVHC more than 0.1%w/w or any article that does not meet REACH restriction conditions.
Getting Help for Compliance
Well this is not really our area of expertise. Here are a few well known organisations in the UK that may be able to assist.
Companies such as REACHReady, Blue Frog Scientific, ACRE Consultancy, and SGS provide specialist services to help organisations navigate REACH and UK REACH regulatory requirements.
Final Thoughts
A REACH Declaration of Conformity is an essential compliance document for companies selling products in the EU market.
By confirming that products meet chemical safety regulations, the declaration helps protect consumers, maintain regulatory compliance, and support transparency throughout the supply chain.
For manufacturers and distributors alike, maintaining up-to-date REACH documentation is an important part of responsible product management.