Plastic products do need to undergo REACH testing before entering the EU market. REACH is the European Union's regulation on the registration, evaluation, authorization and restriction of chemicals. It covers almost all chemical substances used in the EU market, including chemicals used in industrial production and daily life. Regarding the EU REACH testing of plastic products, the following is an overview of the testing process and key points:
1. REACH certification background and purpose:
- REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals) is the European Union's regulation on the registration, evaluation, authorization, and restriction of chemicals. It aims to protect human health and the environment and ensure the safe use of chemicals.
2. Test items:
- REACH testing items for plastic products include physical and chemical properties (specific gravity, hardness, rigidity, etc.), chemical properties (water resistance, acid resistance, etc.), thermal properties (specific heat, thermal conductivity, etc.) and aging properties (ozone, UV aging, etc.) .
3. Testing process:
- The REACH certification process mainly includes four stages: preparation stage, registration stage, evaluation stage and authorization stage.
- During the preparation phase, companies need to understand the requirements of REACH and assess their chemical inventory to determine whether REACH certification is required.
- The registration stage is the core of REACH certification. Companies need to submit chemical registration applications and provide relevant testing and reporting materials.
- The assessment stage is conducted by a professional assessment agency to confirm the risk of chemical substances harming human health and the environment.
- The authorization phase targets specific hazardous substances, and companies must obtain authorization to continue using these substances.
4. Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC):
- Under the REACH regulations, substances of very high concern (SVHC) include harmful substances such as carcinogens, teratogens, reproductive toxicity, and bioaccumulation. The purpose of article SVHC testing is to determine whether the single SVHC quality/item quality in the article exceeds 0.1%, and to convey SVHC information to the recipient/consumer.
5. Compliance requirements:
- According to the REACH regulations, any "existing" or "new" chemical substances with an annual production or import volume of 1 ton or more in the EU market must be registered and relevant safety information for use must be provided.
6. Testing and Evaluation:
- Companies need to test chemical substances in products to ensure compliance with REACH regulations. This includes testing for SVHC content, as well as assessment of other hazardous substances.
7. Reports and notifications:
- According to the requirements of REACH regulations, when the SVHC content in a product exceeds 0.1% and the company's export volume exceeds 1 ton/year, the company needs to report to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).
8. Cost and time:
- REACH testing prices vary depending on the product, and the report is generally issued within 4-7 working days.
To sum up, the EU REACH testing of plastic products is a comprehensive process involving multiple test items and strict processes to ensure that the product meets the EU's chemical safety requirements.
Shen Gongwang Security: 44030602006947