Restriction

REACH provides for a restriction procedure for the regulation of the production, sale or use of certain substances on the territory of the EU when they comprise an unacceptable risk to health or the environment. These activities can be restricted and possibly even forbidden. In a certain sense the restriction forms  a ‘safety net’ that must offer a solution to the risks not covered by the other REACH procedures.

Restrictions can apply to each substance as such or in a preparation or article if it is shown that the risks at community level must be tackled.

The restrictions for a substance can apply to all applications or certain specific applications.

Annex XVII  of the REACH regulation contains a list of all substances for which restrictions apply. The existing restrictions determined in the directive with respect to the marketing and use of certain dangerous substances and preparations (76/769/EEC) were incorporated in REACH.