Delivering Fluid Sealing Solutions Since 1972

REACH Compliance Update

REACH Compliance: How it impacts Seals and Gaskets

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), the regulatory body responsible for implementing the European Union’s landmark chemicals legislation, REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals), has recently expanded its Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs). This significant update, issued on 25th June 2025, has brought the total number of entries on the Candidate List to 250 chemicals.

Substances of Very High Concern are chemicals identified as having properties that could seriously harm human health or the environment. These typically include substances that are:

  • Carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic for reproduction (CMRs)
  • Persistent, bio-accumulatives, and toxic (PBTs) or very persistent and very bio accumulative (vPvBs)
  • Have other properties of equivalent concern, such as endocrine-disrupting chemicals.

The Candidate List is the first step in ECHA’s authorisation process under the REACH Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006. Its inclusion triggers immediate legal obligations for companies manufacturing, importing, or using these substances, whether on their own, in mixtures, or in articles (products). These obligations include providing information to customers, and in some cases, notifying ECHA. The ultimate goal is to encourage the substitution of these hazardous chemicals with safer alternatives.

In light of ECHA’s latest update, M Barnwell services wishes to assure its customers and partners that its commitment to product safety and regulatory compliance remains paramount. We confirm that, as of the ECHA’s announcement on 25th June 2025, materials supplied by us do not contain any of the 250 currently listed Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs).

We are dedicated to upholding the highest environmental, health, and safety standards. Our rigorous material selection and quality control processes ensure full adherence to the stringent requirements of the REACH Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006, providing our customers with peace of mind regarding the safety and compliance of their products.

For further information, please visit the SVHCs  Candidate List, or, take a look at UK REACH homepage

E&OE. M Barnwell Services endeavours to ensure that all technical information is correct.