Most teams watch the SVHC list. The REACH Restricted List is just as binding — and far easier to miss.
Five restricted substances commonly turn up in electronics, from cable jacketing to housings. Here’s where they hide and how to keep them out of your products.
The European Union’s Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation is a cornerstone of global chemical compliance. Two of its elements — the Restricted List and the Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) list — play distinct roles in ensuring product safety and environmental health.
Most manufacturers know the SVHC list well. The Restricted List is the one that gets overlooked, and that gap is where major compliance problems start.
The REACH Restricted List specifies substances whose manufacture, use, or placement on the EU market is limited or prohibited. Compliance is mandatory for every company operating in — or supplying products to — EU markets.
The two lists serve complementary but distinct purposes. SVHCs flag potential concerns; the Restricted List enforces concrete action.
Identifies substances that may cause significant risks — such as carcinogenicity, reproductive toxicity, or persistence in the environment. SVHCs may eventually be added to the Authorization List, requiring explicit approval for their use.
Subjects substances to specific use limitations or outright bans. Where SVHCs highlight concerns, the Restricted List enforces concrete actions to mitigate risk — often targeting specific industries or use-case applications.
Electronics manufacturers must look closely at use-case applications to determine whether a restriction applies to their products. These five substances are common offenders.
| Substance | Common Use in Electronics |
|---|---|
| C9–C14 PFCAs | Used for their water-, oil-, and dirt-repellent properties in coatings. |
| Monomethyl-tetrachlorodiphenyl methane | Often used in dielectric fluids and hydraulic fluids. |
| Monomethyl-dichloro-diphenyl methane | Used in the preparation of polymers like resin, rubber, plastic, paint, and film. |
| Monomethyl-dibromo-diphenyl methane (mixture of isomers) | A flame retardant used in various applications, most notably in plastic cable jacketing. |
| Diphenyl ether, octabromo derivative | A flame retardant used in the housings of electrical and electronic equipment. |
Identify and document all chemicals used in your production processes and products.
Work closely with suppliers to confirm the absence of restricted substances or to obtain the necessary declarations.
Verify compliance through laboratory testing and third-party certifications where necessary.
Regularly review updates to REACH regulations and the Restricted List to avoid non-compliance.
Employ software and expert support to navigate complex regulatory requirements efficiently.
Z2 provides a suite of tools designed to simplify REACH compliance, so teams can manage obligations, reduce operational risk, and maintain market access.
Instantly identify restricted substances in products using up-to-date regulatory information.
Evaluate product compositions to determine compliance risks and identify safer alternatives.
Automate the collection of compliance data from suppliers and ensure accurate declarations.
Stay informed about changes to the REACH Restricted List and other regulations through real-time alerts.
Z2 screens your bill of materials against the REACH Restricted List, SVHC list, and other regulations using an up-to-date chemical database — flagging restricted substances down to the component level before they reach the EU market.
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