Are you Ready for Changes to REACH & RoHS in 2023?

Are you Ready for Changes to REACH & RoHS in 2023?

There are several new updates and changes to REACH and RoHS in 2023. REACH is a European (EU) regulation that restricts the use of certain chemical substances in products manufactured, sold, and imported within the EU. As a regulation REACH is legally binding across all EU member states. 

RoHS on the other hand is an EU directive that restricts the use of 10 specific substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) manufactured, distributed, and imported within the EU. As a directive, each member state must incorporate RoHS within their national law for it to become legally binding. 

REACH additionally has a larger scope and it applies to all parts and products sold in the EU, with some exemptions such as radioactive materials while the RoHS directive focuses on EEEs with some exceptions. 

There are some similarities between REACH and ROHS and the EU strives to ensure that there are no conflicts between the two, but each has its compliance process. 

New Substances Added to REACH

On January 17, 2023,  added nine hazardous chemicals to the EU Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Candidate List of substances of very high concerns (SVHC). REACH now contains a list of 233 chemicals that can be harmful to people or the environment. 

• 1,1'-[ethane-1,2-diylbisoxy]bis[2,4,6-tribromobenzene]
• 2,2',6,6'-tetrabromo-4,4'-isopropylidenediphenol
• 4,4'-sulphonyldiphenol
• Barium diboron tetraoxide
• Bis(2-ethylhexyl) tetrabromophthalate covering any of the individual isomers and/or combinations thereof
• Isobutyl 4-hydroxybenzoate
• Melamine
• Perfluoroheptanoic acid and its salts
• reaction mass of 2,2,3,3,5,5,6,6-octafluoro-4-(1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropan-2-yl)morpholine and 2,2,3,3,5,5,6,6-octafluoro-4-(heptafluoropropyl)morpholine
  

REACH was implemented by the European Union (EU) in June 2007, to prevent the use of certain chemical substances in products manufactured, sold, and imported within the EU. These substances are potentially dangerous and harmful to people and the environment. Under the REACH regulations, companies have legal obligations and are responsible for managing the risks of these chemicals and must also give safety information to their customers and consumers. Manufacturers and importers are required to gather information on the properties of their chemical substances, which will allow their safe handling, and to register the information in a central database in the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) in Helsinki.

Potential Changes to the RoHS Directive

The EU Restriction on Hazardous Substances RoHS Directive currently restricts the use of ten substances: lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP). The original RoHS directive came into effect in July 2006 subsequently new restrictions were added under RoHS 2 directive since then. 

Currently, there is a review proceeding to assess the effectiveness of the RoHS directive as the EU puts more emphasis on product sustainability. 

The European Commission (EU) is expected to announce the addition of two new substances:

• Medium chain chlorinated paraffin (MCCPs) – Mainly used in PVC insulations for electric cables and wires and other soft plastic or rubber components, including polyurethane, polysulphide, acrylic, and butyl sealants.
  

• Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBP-A) - Mainly used as a precursor in the production of brominated epoxy resins that function as reactively flame-retarded substrates in printed wiring boards (PWB). 
  

The EU is additionally looking to change the RoHS directive into a regulation.

In Summary

The ever-changing landscape of global regulations can expose your organization to potential risks which can threaten your business continuity. 

To stay on top of regulatory changes and to ensure product compliance companies need to implement a robust Compliance Risk Management Program. Learn how Z2Data’s Compliance Manager Tool can help you.

Join Z2Data and Mike Kirschner, President of Design Chain Associates, in a webinar to learn more about the upcoming changes in electronics compliance on February 14th at 11 am Pacific Time. Register here!