ConceptsDefined term

Substance (REACH)

Note: general educational information, not legal advice. Check the official source before relying on it.

A chemical element or compound under REACH, including its additives and impurities, and the base unit that gets registered.

Updated
2026-06-14

Definition#

A substance under REACH is a chemical element or compound, including its additives and impurities. This is the base unit that gets registered. Registration, evaluation and authorisation under the regulation all attach to the substance.

Key point

A substance is the building block. Combine substances without a reaction and you have a mixture. A substance can also sit inside an article.

Substances are identified by markers such as the EC number, which keeps the registered identity consistent across the supply chain. The full framework is set out in REACH.

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Connections

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Substance (REACH)SubstanceREACH: Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of ChemicalsREACHArticle (REACH)ArticleRegistration (REACH)RegistrationEC NumberEC NumberMixtureMixtureUVCB SubstanceUVCBRoHS: Restriction of Hazardous Substances (Directive 2011/65/EU)RoHSIEC 62474: Material Declaration for the Electrotechnical IndustryIEC 62474Material Declaration: Telling the Chain What's InsideMaterial DeclarationIPC-1752A: Materials Declaration ManagementIPC-1752ADSL: Declarable Substance ListDSLIEC/TC 111: Environmental Standardization for Electrotechnical ProductsIEC/TC 111
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