Definition#
A declarable substance is one you must report in a material declaration, because it is tied to a live rule (a restriction, a ban, or a reporting duty) and is present above a threshold.
Two flags, often shown as red and yellow: obligation means report it, it's regulated now; interest means report it because it's under review and might be regulated soon (for example a CoRAP substance).
Why the distinction is useful#
The substance is regulated today, for example a REACH SVHC or a RoHS substance. Reporting is mandatory.
The substance isn't regulated yet, but it is being evaluated (for example CoRAP). Capturing it now means no scramble if the rule lands later.
Which substances are currently obligatory comes from a substance list such as the IEC 62474 DSL.
Intentionally added vs. impurity#
A substance can be present in two very different ways. It may be intentionally added, deliberately put in to give a function such as a flame retardant or a plasticiser, or it may appear as an unavoidable impurity or contaminant left over from a raw material or process. Many declaration rules and thresholds hinge on this distinction: some apply only to substances that are intentionally added, while others count any presence above a concentration limit. When you report a substance, knowing whether it was intended or incidental is often part of the answer.
Note: this is an educational summary maintained by the Pareo team.