REACH Annex XVII (Restrictions)

Last updated:

21 November 2025

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3 min read

DEFINITION

REACH Annex XVII contains the EU's central restriction list for chemical substances and groups of substances. It defines binding conditions for the manufacture, placing on the market, and use of restricted substances – ranging from total bans and concentration limit values to specific labelling requirements. Companies must verify the relevant entries and ensure documented compliance before using a substance or product.

DeclarationREACH Annex XVII (Restrictions)

Annex XVII constitutes the operational core of REACH substance restrictions: each entry specifies a substance, a group of substances, or a use, and establishes legally binding conditions – such as prohibitions on use, concentration limits for mixtures and articles, or labelling requirements. The list is continuously updated by ECHA, incorporating risk assessments from both national authorities and EU bodies.

In corporate practice, this requires product development, raw material selection, and supply chain management to be systematically audited against all relevant Annex XVII entries. Compliance teams must cross-reference bills of materials (BOMs) and safety data sheets, document evidence of conformity, and proactively prepare alternative solutions as soon as new restrictions are announced. Critical interfaces exist with other regulatory frameworks, such as RoHS (electrical and electronic equipment), the POP Regulation (persistent organic pollutants), and the CLP Regulation (classification and labelling). To manage these processes, manufacturers and importers rely on integrated BOM systems, automated substance screening, and structured approval workflows to guarantee market access and legal compliance.

Key Points

- Central REACH restriction list for substances, substance groups and uses - Mandatory compliance assessment prior to manufacture and placing on the market - Contains prohibitions, concentration limits and labelling requirements - Regular updates by the ECHA based on risk assessments - Enforcement by national market surveillance authorities - Interfaces with RoHS, the POPs Regulation and CLP