Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), like companies operating in many other manufacturing sectors, depend on a diverse range of chemical substances. These range from thin film metals and copper plating materials to silicon wafers, laminates, and conductive polymers. As a result, OEMs are subject to REACH, a key European Union regulation designed to safeguard human health and the environment from potentially harmful chemicals. Read this article for further details on how REACH impacts OEMs and how EMS providers can contribute to compliance with the directive.
Registration of Chemicals
The REACH regulations, which stand for Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals, require companies that introduce products to the market to record, document, and report detailed information on any chemical substances they manufacture or import into the EU if the quantity exceeds one ton per year. The report must include the specific properties of the chemicals, their uses, and guidelines for safe handling.
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) then evaluates this information to assess the possible risks associated with these substances.
During the registration and evaluation process, the ECHA may raise concerns about the risks associated with the evaluated substances. In such scenarios, the Agency may require further testing. Finally, it can impose restrictions on the use of particularly hazardous substances.
Authorization Process
If original equipment manufacturers need to use chemicals labeled as SVHCs (substances of very high concern), they must complete an additional step before including such materials in their manufacturing processes. The legal procedure in such cases involves obtaining authorization from the ECHA, which may impose specific conditions on the substance’s use or restrict its application in the manufacturing processes.
Enforced Restrictions
As previously mentioned, REACH serves as the legal basis for enforcing restrictions on using, manufacturing, and importing certain chemical substances if their assessment demonstrates that they pose intolerable risks to human health or the environment.
CMR substances suspected of causing genetic mutations, cancer, or reproductive problems, such as cadmium and lead, as well as PBT substances with high toxicity and the ability to accumulate and persist in biological organisms like mercury, are restricted according to the REACH directive.
Partnership with EMS Providers for Compliance with the REACH Directive
Adhering to REACH regulations allows original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to legally operate within the European Union while promoting their brands as global environmental and human health protection advocates in other markets.
Achieving alignment with stringent industry standards necessitates close collaboration with experienced EMS providers such as Poland-based Assel. Assel offers professional manufacturing services and ensures efficient and transparent supply chain management.
With the support of a contract manufacturer, OEMs can accurately assess whether their annual import of chemical substances exceeds the threshold levels specified in the directive. The EMS provider can assist OEMs in collecting precise and comprehensive information about chemicals eligible for the registration process mandated by REACH.
As an additional service, contract manufacturers can obtain declarations of compliance with the directive from suppliers of components and materials used in device production, further supporting alignment with the REACH regulations.
REACH in the EMS Sector – Conclusions
Original equipment manufacturers must register and provide detailed information on their chemicals, undergo evaluation by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), and obtain authorization for substances of very high concern (SVHCs). To streamline the complex process of adhering the device production to the REACH regulations with the assistance of a competent EMS provider, visit https://asselems.com/en/rohs-reach-in-contract-electronics-assembly-what-is-it
