REACH is a regulation of the European Union, adopted to improve the protection of human health and the environment from the risks that can be posed by chemicals. REACH stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals and came into force on 1 June 2007. It also promotes alternative methods for the hazard assessment of substances to reduce the number of tests on animals.

REACH applies to all chemical substances used in industrial processes and by consumers in their day to day lives.

To comply with the regulation, companies must identify and manage the risks linked to the substances they manufacture and market in the EU. They have to demonstrate how the substance can be safely used, and they must communicate the risk management measures to the users.

If the risks cannot be managed, authorities can restrict the use of substances in different ways working towards the most hazardous substances being substituted with less dangerous ones.

REACH applies to all substances manufactured or imported into the EU in quantities of 1 tonne or more per year with very few exceptions. The regulation requires manufacturers or importers of substances to submit to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) for evaluation of a safety dossier containing details of the substances properties and a detailed risk assessment for known uses.