EU REACH Made Simple: What Every Indian Exporter Should Know

Imagine an Indian company exporting garments or electronic components to Europe. The product is high quality fabrics and garments at a very competitive cost but suddenly the shipment is stopped at an EU port. The reason behind it was one of the chemicals used in the product does not comply with EU REACH rules. To avoid such situations understanding about the REACH Regulation becomes very important for Indian companies.

What is REACH Regulation

The REACH regulation stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals. It is the main European Union law that controls and regulates how chemicals must be manufactured, imported and used in the EU market. REACH applies not only to chemical companies but also on products like textiles, plastics, electronics, furniture, toys and automotive parts. Under the regulation companies must prove that chemicals used in their products are safe for people and the environment.

Importance of Reach Regulation

Before REACH regulation many harmful chemicals were used without proper safety checks. Some chemicals were linked to cancer, long term health problems and environmental pollution.

The EU introduced REACH for:

● Protecting human health and environment.

●Making companies responsible for chemical safety.

●Giving consumers the right to know what is inside products.

● Encouraging safer and cleaner alternatives.

Key Rules of REACH

REACH works through four main steps.

1. Registration: If a company exports more than one tonne chemical per year to the EU, it must register that chemical and share safety data.

2. Evaluation: EU authorities check whether the chemical information is complete and safe.

3. Authorisation: Highly dangerous chemicals need special permission to be used.

4. Restriction. If a chemical is exceedingly harmful then its use can be limited or completely banned in the EU.

Impact on Indian Companies

REACH does not apply only to EU based companies, Indian companies exporting to the EU are also affected even without having an office in Europe. Industries like textiles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, electronics, automotive components, plastics and consumer goods must comply with REACH. Non-compliance can lead to Products being rejected at EU borders, loss of European market and customers, financial losses and reputational damage.

Compliance Steps for Indian Companies

To comply under the REACH Regulation, Indian companies should take some practical steps.

1. Identify all chemicals used in their products.

2. Check whether these chemicals require registration or authorisation under REACH Regulation.

3. Appoint an EU based ‘Only Representative’ to handle REACH obligations and customer grievances.

4. Keep safety data sheets and documentation updated.

5. Regularly monitor EU updates on restricted and high risk chemicals.

Conclusion

The EU REACH Regulation should not be considered as a trade barrier, but as a safety and sustainability standard that protects people, environment and markets. For Indian companies, REACH compliance helps maintain access to the EU market, build trust with European partners and compete globally. Understanding and following REACH is not just about compliance it is about long term business success in India-EU trade.

This article is written by

Chandan Vishwas, EICBI Public Policy and International Affairs Intern