REACH - The European Chemicals Regulation
On 1 June 2007 the European Chemicals Regulation REACH – Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals – entered into force. The aim of the EU Regulation is to improve the protection of human health and the environment. For this reason a series of chemicals were identified at European level, which require relevant registration by the companies. This list of chemicals is being continuously extended. The chemicals will be registered with the European Chemicals Agency ECHA, which also monitors the compliance with the Regulation.
As a result of these regulations, manufacturers and importers of chemical substances into the EU (whether natural materials, pure or combined substances) may be required to register the substances that they use at the European Chemicals Agency, or to provide data on these substances to their customers.
Under the laws governing chemical substances, electronic components are considered as articles. Substances contained in articles are to be registered only in case they are intended to be released under normal or reasonably foreseeable conditions of use. The substances contained in electronic components usually do not fulfil this obligation and will therefore not have to be registered. If products contain SVHCs (Substances of Very High Concern), the vendor must inform the supply-chain about these substances, even if the chemical substance will be not released under normal or reasonably foreseeable conditions of use.
At an early stage Arrow explored the ways that distribution is affected by the requirements of the REACH Regulation and has established relevant processes where all involved market participants can effectively and unanimously exchange information.
What is REACH?
REACH is a new European Union regulation concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals. It came into force on 1st June 2007 and replaces a number of European Directives and Regulations with a single system. This regulation comes into force with a gradual implementation of the obligations through 2018.
REACH requires manufacturers and importers of chemical substances may be obliged to either (i) register the substances they use or import, and/or (ii) provide information to their customers pertaining to certain substances known as Substances of Very High Concern (“SVHC’s”).
How does this affect Arrow and our customers?
Arrow is a distributor of “Articles” with locations inside of the EU. We does not sell Articles containing chemicals that are intended to be released under normal and reasonably foreseeable conditions of use. Therefore, Arrow are not planning to pre-register or register any substances, since pre-registration or registration is not required under these circumstances.
Since the List of SVHCs was published Arrow has contacted our suppliers (both located inside and outside of the EU) in order to obtain the information pertaining to any Articles containing SVHC’s.
Please see link on the status of the presence of SVHCs in our supplier products and link to relevant information provided by suppliers which is updated as new supplier information is recieved and will be updated as new SHVCs are published on the Candidate list.
Arrow is monitoring all new developments and obligations with regard to REACh and Annex XIV (the “Candidate list”). Should either of these change and affect our obligations to our customers we will update this information
More Information on Reach
Aims
REACH has several aims:
- To provide a high level of protection of human health and the environment from the use of chemicals.
- To make the people who place chemicals on the market (manufacturers and importers responsible for understanding and managing the risks associated with their use.)
- To allow the free movement of substances on the EU market.
- To enhance innovation in and the competitiveness of the EU chemicals industry.
- To promote the use of alternative methods for the assessment of the hazardous properties of substances e.g. quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) and read across.
Authorisation
In order to place on the market or use substances with properties that are deemed to be of "very high concern"industry must apply for an authorisation. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) in Helsinki will publish an initial list containing substances to be considered for the authorisation process by 1 June 2009. A company wishing to market or use such a substance must submit an application to the ECHA for an authorisation. Decisions on authorisation are made by the European Commission, taking advice from the ECHA and member states. Applicants will have to demonstrate that risks associated with uses of these substances are adequately controlled or that the socio-economic benefits of their use outweigh the risks. Applicants must also analyse whether there are safer suitable alternatives or technologies. If there are then they must prepare substitution plans and if not then they should provide information on research and development activities if appropriate.
Restrictions
Any substance that poses a particular threat that is deemed to require Community-wide action can be restricted. Restrictions take many forms, for example, from a total ban to not being allowed to supply it to the general public. Restrictions can be applied to any substance, including those that do not require registration. This part of REACH takes over the provisions of the Marketing & Use Directive.
Classification and labelling
An important part of chemical safety is clear information about any hazardous properties of a substance. The classification of different chemicals according to their characteristics (for example, those that are corrosive, or toxic to fish, etc.) currently follows an established system, which is reflected in REACH. A new EU CLP regulation will come into force from January 2009 and will dovetail with REACH.
Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC)
Some substances have hazards that have serious consequences, e.g. they cause cancer (carcinogenic), or they have other harmful properties and remain in the environment for a long time (persistent) and gradually build up in animals (bioaccumulative). These are 'substances of high very concern[20]'. This category also includes substances demonstrated to be of equivalent concern, such as “endocrine disruptors”. One of the aims of REACH is to control the use of such substances via authorisation and encourage industry to substitute these substances for safer ones.
Substances meeting these criteria may be placed on one or both of two lists that are defined in the REACH Regulation: the so called ‘Candidate List’ and the ‘Annex XIV List’.
A potential SVHC may be prioritised by national REACH Competent Authorities, or by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) at the request of the European Commission (EC), and a dossier prepared for nomination of the substance for inclusion on the Candidate List. The list of proposed substances is then published on the ECHA website and interested parties are invited to submit comments within a set timeframe. If no comments are received, the substance will be automatically included on the Candidate List. However, if comments are received, ECHA will refer the dossier to its Member State Committee where agreement will be sought as to whether the substance meets the Article 57 criteria. If there is failure to reach a unanimous agreement at the Member State Committee then the EC will prepare a draft proposal on the identification of the substance and a final decision subsequently taken in accordance with the comitology procedure laid out in Article 133.
It is only once a substance is placed on the Candidate List that the specific responsibilities are placed on industry.
Substances of Very High Concern
Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern for Authorisation
Substances that are included in the Candidate List have been identified as Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC). These substances may have very serious and often irreversible effects on humans and the environment. Substances on the Candidate List may subsequently become subject to authorisation by decision of the European Commission.
Substances are added to the Candidate List by ECHA. The inclusion of a substance in the List may have legal obligations on companies. These obligations are linked to the listed substances:
- on their own
- in preparations
- present in articles
The Candidate List (the list will be regularly updated when more substances are identified as SVHC)
What are the consequences of a substance appearing on the Candidate List
Duty to communicate information on substances in articles
An ‘article’ is an object which during production is given a special shape, surface or design which determines its function to a greater degree than does its chemical composition.
Suppliers of an article containing a substance that appears on the Candidate List in a concentration above 0.1 % weight by weight (w/w) shall provide the recipient of the article with sufficient information, available to the supplier, to allow safe use of the article including, as a minimum, the name of the substance (Article 33). This applies when the article is supplied to recipients who are to use it as part of their work.
Equivalent information should be supplied to consumers (the general public) if it is requested. The supplier has the duty to provide this information within 45 days of receipt of this request.
Section 8.9 of the "ECHA Guidance on requirements for substances in articles" gives more advice on how to communicate this information.
ECHA published Candidate list (October 2008) defining Substances of Very High Concern
| Substance identification | Date of inclusion | |
| Substance Name | EC (CAS No.) | 28.10.08 |
| Triethyl arsenate | 427-700-2 | 28.10.08 |
| Anthracene | 204-371-1 | 28.10.08 |
| 4,4'- Diaminodiphenylmethane (MDA) | 202-974-4 | 28.10.08 |
| Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) | 201-557-4 | 28.10.08 |
| Cobalt dichloride | 231-589-4 | 28.10.08 |
| Diarsenic pentaoxide | 215-116-9 | 28.10.08 |
| Diarsenic trioxide | 215-481-4 | 28.10.08 |
| Sodium dichromate | 234-190-3 (7789-12-0 and 10588-01-9) | 28.10.08 |
| 5-tert-butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene (musk xylene) | 201-329-4 | 28.10.08 |
| Bis (2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) | 204-211-0 | 28.10.08 |
| Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) and all major diastereoisomers identified: Alpha-hexabromocyclododecane Beta-hexabromocyclododecane Gamma-hexabromocyclododecane | 247-148-4 and 221-695-9 (134237-50-6) (134237-51-7) (134237-52-8) | 28.10.08 |
| Alkanes, C10-13, chloro (Short Chain Chlorinated Paraffins) | 287-476-5 | 28.10.08 |
| Bis(tributyltin)oxide (TBTO) | 200-268-0 | 28.10.08 |
| Lead hydrogen arsenate | 232-064-2 | 28.10.08 |
| Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) | 201-622-7 | 28.10.08 |
Supplier Information
Arrow will regularly update following informations when new supplier information is received and/or more substances are identified as SVHC.
| Supplier | Vendor affected by SVHC | Products affected by SVHC | Remarks & link to web-site |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3M Interconnect Solutions, Electronics & Electronic Solutions | N | http://solutions.3m.com/ | |
| 3M Touch Systems | N | http://solutions.3m.com | |
| AAEON | UNCONFIRMED | NO INFO FROM SUPPLIER | |
| AMCC | UNCONFIRMED | NO INFO FROM SUPPLIER | |
| Advanced Micro Devices | N | Products do not contain SVHCs above the threshold. NOTE : certain third-party cables and dongles supplied with some graphic cards may contain the following substances on the published list above the threshold of 0.1 wt% (1,000 ppm): BBP (Benzyl butyl phthalate), CAS No 85-68-7, EC No 201-622-7, DBP (Dibutyl phthalate), CAS No 84-74-2, EC No 201-557-4, DEHP (Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate), CAS No 117-81-7, EC No 204-211-0, HBCDD (Hexabromocyclododecane), CAS No 25637-99-4, EC No 247-148-4. | |
| Advantech | UNCONFIRMED | NO INFO FROM SUPPLIER | |
| Allegro Microsystems | N | Products do not contain SVHCs above the threshold. | |
| Alpha Wire | N | Products do not contain SVHCs above the threshold. | |
| Altera | N | Products do not contain SVHCs above the threshold. | |
| Amber Wireless | UNCONFIRMED | NO INFO FROM SUPPLIER | |
| Amphenol | N | Amphenol Ltd is not currently aware of any of its products containing >0.1% w/w SVHC. | we received certificates from: Amphenol Chanzhou, Amphenol Spectr-Strip, Amphenol Taiwan, Amphenol RF, Amphenol Fiber Optic; all stating that products do not contain SVHC |
| Analog Devices | N | Analog Devices certifies that its products do not contain any of the substances identified as SVHC in excess of the 0,1% threshold. | |
| Anderson Power Products | N | Products do not contain SVHCs above the threshold. | |
| Astrodyne | N | none of the products contain SVHC | |
| Atmel Corporation | N | Products do not contain SVHCs above the threshold. | |
| Avago Technologies | N | Products do not contain SVHCs above the threshold. | |
| AVX Corporation | N | Products do not contain SVHCs above the threshold. | |
| BI Technologies | N | Products do not contain SVHCs above the threshold. | |
| Bourns | N | Products do not contain SVHCs above the threshold. | |
| C&K Components | N | None of the "substances of very high concern" (SVHC) currently listed on the candidates list are intentionally used or contained in any of C&K's products. | |
| Cherry /ZF Electronics | Y | Some products contain SVHC over threshold. | |
| Cinterion Wireless Modules | UNCONFIRMED | NO INFO FROM SUPPLIER | |
| CML Innovative Technologies | N | Products do not contain SVHCs above the threshold. | |
| connectBlue | UNCONFIRMED | not clear, is referring to company called Onrox | NO INFO FROM SUPPLIER |
| Cooper Bussmann | N | ||
| CREE | N | Cree Xlamp products are not affected - shipping and packaging marerials may contain CoCl2 in Humidity indicating material | |
| Crydom | N | Products do not contain SVHCs above the threshold. | |
| Crystal Clear Technology | UNCONFIRMED | NO INFO FROM SUPPLIER | |
| Cypress Semiconductor | N | If Cypress products contain any SVHC substance exceeding the 0.1%/wt, Cypress will disclose this information by part number to the customer. | |
| Delta Electronics | UNCONFIRMED | NO INFO FROM SUPPLIER | |
| Dialight | N | ||
| Diodes Inc / Zetex | N | Products do not contain SVHCs above the threshold. | |
| Dow Corning | Y | Some products contain SVHC over threshold. | |
| Emerson Network Power | UNCONFIRMED | http://emersonnetworkpower.com | |
| Epcos | Y | Some products contain SVHC over threshold. | www.epcos.com/reach_svhc |
| Epson | Y | the majority of products and packaging as manufactured/supplied by Epson do not contain SVHC in concentration over 0.1%wt. 6 articles are detected that may contain Diarsenic trixide over the threshold. | articels are: L3P05S-46G00B, L3P13Y-25G01R, L3P14X-45G00R, L3P14Y-45G01B, L3P14Y-45G01G, L3P14Y-45G01R |
| Everlight | N | Products do not contain SVHCs above the threshold. | |
| EVERVISION Electronic Europe | UNCONFIRMED | NO INFO FROM SUPPLIER | |
| Exar Corporation | N | Exar is happy to inform that all of their production-released packages are REACH compliant and do not contain SVHC | |
| EZURiO | UNCONFIRMED | NO INFO FROM SUPPLIER | |
| Fagor Electronic Components | N | http://www.fagorelectronica.es | |
| Fairchild Semiconductor | N | Products do not contain SVHCs above the threshold. | |
| FCI | N | so far, any product in FCI containing SVHC has been found | |
| Fischer Elektronik | N | Products do not contain SVHCs above the threshold. | |
| Fraen | UNCONFIRMED | NO INFO FROM SUPPLIER | |
| Freescale | N | Products do not contain SVHCs above the threshold. | |
| Fujitsu Europe Ltd. Group | |||
| GSI Technology | UNCONFIRMED | NO INFO FROM SUPPLIER | |
| Grayhill | N | ||
| Harting | Y | Han 6 B-agg-LB , Han 10 B-agg-LB contain slightly more than 0.1%/wt of DEHP | |
| Hitachi | N | is currently not aware of any products of packaging material that exceeds the limits set by the legislation. Will endeavor to inform their customers in a timely manner should a substance in greater volume of 0.1% wt be identified | |
| Honeywell | N | "Pre-registration, registration and notification requirements of REACH are met for Honeywell products manufactured in or imported into the EU." | |
| Hynix Semiconductor | N | Products do not contain SVHCs above the threshold. | Link |
| Infineon Technologies | N | IFX's products do not contain substances included in the Candidate List in a concentration above 0.1%/wt. - Packaging of dry packed products encloses a HIC containing CoCl2 in a concentration of 0.15 mass% | |
| Integrated Device Technology / IDT | N | no articles are affected - no information with regard to packing materials | |
| Intel | N | SVHCs are not present in Intel products above the REACH reporting threshold of 0.1%wt - some shipments may contain Humidity Indicator cards affected by CoCl2 | |
| International Rectifier | N | Products do not contain SVHCs above the threshold. | |
| IQD Frequency Products | N | IQD is apparaising their position in regard to REACH regulations, however early assessment of the situation appears to indicate that these regulations will not apply to IQD and their products. | |
| ISSI | N | Products do not contain SVHCs above the threshold. | |
| ITT Cannon Connectors / ITT Industries | UNCONFIRMED | NO INFO FROM SUPPLIER | |
| JST | N | all products delivered to Arrow CE are free of SVHC with one exception FLVDDF1.25-187A-8(LF), where testing is ongoing | http://www.jst.de |
| KEMET | N | Products do not contain SVHCs above the threshold. | |
| Khatod Optoelectronic | N | Khatod products do not contain any SVHC | |
| Kingston | N | Products do not contain SVHCs above the threshold. | Link |
| Knitter-Switch | N | ||
| Kontron | N | articles do not currently contain any substances above 0.1mass-% per product that could be included on the candidate list. | http://emea.kontron.com |
| Laird Technologies | UNCONFIRMED | NO INFO FROM SUPPLIER | |
| Lattice Semiconductor | N | Products do not contain SVHCs above the threshold. | |
| Ledil | UNCONFIRMED | NO INFO FROM SUPPLIER | |
| Lineage Power | UNCONFIRMED | NO INFO FROM SUPPLIER | |
| Linear Technology | N | Products do not contain SVHCs above the threshold. | |
| Littelfuse | N | determined already that the vast majority of their products do not contain any of these SVHC above the threshold of 0.1%/wt. Expect to complete asessment of the remaining products shortly. | http://www.littelfuse.com |
| LSI | N | ||
| Lumberg | N | Lumberg products contain none of the SVHCs | |
| Matrox | UNCONFIRMED | NO INFO FROM SUPPLIER | |
| Micrel | N | Products do not contain SVHCs above the threshold. | |
| Micron Europe Ltd. | N | Micron's die, component, and module level products do not contain any of the materials published in candidate list | |
| Microsemi | N | Products do not contain SVHCs above the threshold. | |
| Microsoft | UNCONFIRMED | NO INFO FROM SUPPLIER | |
| Microtronix | UNCONFIRMED | NO INFO FROM SUPPLIER | |
| Mitsubishi Electronics | UNCONFIRMED | NO INFO FROM SUPPLIER | |
| Molex | N | until now NO parts are affected, but 686 articels are still in testing phase | http://www.molex.com |
| Murata | N | Products do not contain SVHCs above the threshold.. DEPH is contained into product protect tape ( used in the adhesive of the tape for dust prevention ) | |
| Murata Power Solutions | N | None of the products do contain any SVHC > 01% by weight | |
| National Semiconductor | N | Products do not contain SVHCs above the threshold. | |
| NEC Electronics | N | Link | |
| Nichicon | UNCONFIRMED | NO INFO FROM SUPPLIER | |
| NKK Switches | N | Products do not contain SVHCs above the threshold. | |
| NXP Semiconductors | N | Link | |
| OKI Electric Europe / Semiconductor | UNCONFIRMED | ||
| Omron | Y | Some products contain SVHC over threshold. | |
| ON Semiconductor | N | Products do not contain SVHCs above the threshold. | |
| Opnext | UNCONFIRMED | NO INFO FROM SUPPLIER | |
| OSRAM Opto Semiconductors | N | Products do not contain SVHCs above the threshold. | Link |
| Panasonic | N | Some products contain SVHC over threshold. | |
| Panduit | N | none of their products contain any of the SVHC | |
| Phoenix Contact | N | Phoenix contact does not use any of the SVHC for production. However HIC may contain CoCl2. | |
| Power Systems GmbH & Co. KG | N | ||
| Power-One | UNCONFIRMED | NO INFO FROM SUPPLIER | |
| Pulse | N | Products do not contain SVHCs above the threshold. | |
| Radiall | Y | Please see attached list | |
| Radisys | N | ||
| RECOM | N | Products do not contain SVHCs above the threshold. | |
| Renesas | N | Renesas products except for Ink marking devices and packing materials DO NOT contain SVHCs | |
| Samsung | N | Products do not contain SVHCs above the threshold. C | IMAGE |
| Samtec | N | Products do not contain SVHCs above the threshold. | |
| SanDisk | UNCONFIRMED | NO INFO FROM SUPPLIER | |
| Sauro | N | Link | |
| Schaffner | N | Products do not contain SVHCs above the threshold. | |
| Schurter | N | Products do not contain SVHCs above the threshold. | |
| Semikron | UNCONFIRMED | NO INFO FROM SUPPLIER | |
| Sharp Electronics / Microelectronics | N | ||
| SKS Kontakttechnik | Y | Yes, the following products contain DEHP/DOP: MST 3, MKU 1, PRUEF 1 | |
| Souriau | N | Products do not contain SVHCs above the threshold. | |
| Spansion | N | Products do not contain SVHCs above the threshold. | |
| ST-Ericsson | N | ST semiconductor wafers free of SVHC. 5 substances out of the 16 listed could be present in ST's finished goods and packaging, some in traces, some less than 0.1%/wt. NXP Products do not contain any of the substances that are currently on the SVHC list - Packaging can contain HICs containing CoCl2, but will be replaced by CoCl2-free alternative in the course of 2009 | |
| STMicroelectronics | N | ST semiconductor wafers are free of SVHC. 5 substances out of the 16 listed could be present in ST's finished goods and packaging, some in traces, some less than 0.1%/wt. | |
| Syfer Technology | N | ||
| Taiwan Semiconductor | N | Link | |
| TDK Electronics | Y | 17 parts are affected, we got the complete list | |
| Telit | N | Telit took all reasonable steps and exercised all due diligence to verify that the emissions of any kind of substances from products introduced in the market are below the threshold of concentration of 0,1% wt during the service-life | |
| Terasic | UNCONFIRMED | NO INFO FROM SUPPLIER | |
| TEWS Technologies | |||
| Texas Instruments | N | Products do not contain SVHCs above the threshold. | Link |
| Toshiba | Y | seems like TORX 104 (F) is affected. Beside that the x-ray tube D-0811,K and D-0811,KA contain Diarsenic Trioxide above 0.1W% | |
| Traco Power | N | Products do not contain SVHCs above the threshold. | |
| TT Electronics/ Welwyn | N | Products do not contain SVHCs above the threshold. | |
| TE Connectivity | Y | Some products contain SVHC over threshold. | |
| Vicor | N | Products do not contain SVHCs above the threshold. | |
| Vincotech | UNCONFIRMED | ||
| Vishay | Y | Some products contain SVHC over threshold. | Link |
| Walsin Technology | N | MLCC, Chip-R, Varistor, Disc and HF do not contain SVHC | Supplier's ceritificate |
| Western Digital | N | Products and associated packaging do not contain any of the SVHCs | |
| Wima | N | until now NO part are affected | |
| Winbond | N | ||
| Yageo | N | Products do not contain SVHCs above the threshold. | |
| Zilog | N | Products do not contain SVHCs above the threshold. |
Further Information
Information in the supply chain
The passage of information up and down the supply chain is a key feature of REACH. Users should be able to understand what manufacturers and importers know about the dangers involved in using chemicals and how to control risks. However, in order for suppliers to be able to assess these risks they need information from the users about how they are used. REACH provides a framework in which information can be passed both up and down supply chains.
REACH adopts and builds on the previous system for passing information - the Safety Data Sheet for substances and preparation (not for articles). This should accompany materials down through the supply chain, providing the information users need to ensure chemicals are safely managed. In time these safety data sheets will include information on safe handling and use.
Further information: Links below:
Documents and web pages below help you to understand the topics covered and/or provide access to relevant tools. The "en" icon indicates that the linked material is available only in English.
- A general description of the authorisation processes can be found in REACH processes pages of the About REACH section on the guidance website.
- Explanatory documents related to the identification of substances "en" can be found on the Member State Committee page.
- More guidance on the obligations related to articles can be found in the Guidance on Substances in Articles ((Section 8.9) available on the guidance website.
- Short summary "en" of obligations linked to the substances on the Candidate List.