Lavanya
Nov 15, 2025
Manufacturers often need to comply with stringent rules for safety and environmental protection. RoHS and REACH compliance stand out as one of the most critical steps in electronics manufacturing and the chemical industries today. Many companies now work to satisfy both RoHS compliance requirements and REACH regulation compliance before launching products in the EU and globally.
If you’ve been in manufacturing this year, you probably felt it — the compliance world didn’t exactly make things easy. Between surprise updates, changing lists, and a few too many acronyms, 2025 tested everyone’s patience.
The SVHC Candidate List quietly stretched from 247 to 251 substances, the latest additions sneaking in by early November. Meanwhile, RoHS exemptions went under review again and caught more than a few teams off guard. Then came the market surveillance reports from the EU: nearly half of the electronic products tested failed basic RoHS requirements. Half! It wasn’t about negligence; it was about systems that couldn’t keep up, supplier checks missed, testing protocols skipped, and compliance files scattered across too many spreadsheets. 2025 was quite a ride.
Why Is RoHS and REACH Compliance Important for Manufacturers?
RoHS and REACH compliance refer to adhering to two key European Union regulatory standards. RoHS stands for Restriction of Hazardous Substances. It targets the use of ten key restricted materials in electrical and electronic equipment. REACH, short for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals, requires all manufacturers to register hazardous substances and control Substances of Very High Concern, or SVHC, across the supply chain.
Manufacturers must check for RoHS restricted substances and comply with strict European laws when producing electronics. Missing RoHS compliance requirements or a complete REACH compliance checklist can lead to legal fines, product recalls, or market bans. For this reason, strong supply chain RoHS REACH management is more critical than ever in 2025.
RoHS compliance requirements focus on splitting hazardous substances from everyday products. Testing of material composition helps companies ensure every product passes restricted materials checks.
REACH-compliant manufacturers must control substances throughout the entire supply chain. Every manufacturer registering chemicals in quantities exceeding one tonne per year must supply complete safety data and traceability information. Some substances require full risk reports before they can be sold in the EU. The REACH regulation compliance guide emphasizes the importance of safe product design, transparent chemical restrictions, and open supplier compliance documentation.
RoHS vs REACH: Key Differences
RoHS vs REACH often confuses new compliance managers. RoHS focuses on limiting hazardous substances in electronic devices only. Meanwhile, REACH covers all chemical substances and articles used or sold in the EU. RoHS requires CE marking and product certification for electrical equipment, while REACH demands registration and ongoing safety reporting for any company handling chemicals, mixtures, or finished goods.
RoHS and REACH compliance share several requirements but serve different purposes. RoHS restricts hazardous substances only in electrical and electronic equipment. REACH applies to all chemicals, mixtures, goods, and articles sold or produced in the EU. RoHS requires only CE marking while REACH calls for detailed registration, ongoing safety reporting, and supply chain declarations. Manufacturers often need both to reach complete product compliance in 2025.
RoHS 10 Substances List: The Essentials
Manufacturers need to be aware of the complete RoHS 10 substances list to maintain regulatory compliance. This key list includes
Lead
Mercury
Cadmium
hexavalent chromium
polybrominated biphenyls
polybrominated diphenyl ethers
Four toxic phthalates -
DEHP
BBP
DBP
DIBP.
RoHS restricted substances ppm limits vary for each chemical, but usually do not exceed 1000 ppm. All electronic items must remain below these limits for CE marking and EU compliance in electronics manufacturing.
To show RoHS compliance for electronics manufacturers, CE marking becomes essential. Products bearing the CE mark comply with all EU standards for the manufacture of electronics and hazardous substances. The mark indicates to buyers and regulators that our items comply with the required RoHS restricted substances limits and material composition rules. Detailed compliance documentation and supplier statements support smooth inspections.
RoHS Exemptions and Deadlines 2025
RoHS allows certain exemptions and transition periods for limited materials, such as recycled PVC containing small amounts of lead and cadmium. These RoHS exemptions and deadlines 2025 help manufacturers meet recycling goals and switch to safer alternatives. Always review yearly updates in the RoHS directive to avoid falling out of compliance as deadlines shift.
As RoHS exemptions and deadlines 2025 continue to evolve. Some exemptions for medical and industrial devices are under review. Manufacturers must closely monitor these updates through reliable compliance partners like Certivo, ensuring no deadline or revision goes unnoticed.
REACH Regulation Compliance Guide
You must understand your role in the supply chain before meeting REACH requirements. Companies must register chemicals that exceed the one-tonne production threshold. Each registration includes chemical safety reports, exposure scenarios, and risk characterizations. The REACH regulation compliance guide recommends using centralized documentation and making sure every registration tracks every material and supplier. This step-by-step guide helps companies avoid missing any reporting deadlines.
At Certivo, we help manufacturers interpret the REACH substance registration requirements and manage the necessary technical documentation. Compliance requires coordination between chemical suppliers, product designers, and regulatory specialists — all within a structured regulatory compliance program.
Complete REACH Compliance Checklist for Manufacturers
For full REACH compliance, you must:
Map supply chain roles for all substances and mixtures.
Check the registration status for new and existing chemicals.
Gather or create chemical safety reports for substances over ten tonnes each year.
Keep all documentation—product certification, supplier statements, and material declarations—in a digital management system for easy updates.
Review registration deadlines and communicate with regulatory authorities before selling new products.
SVHC Compliance and Supplier Declarations
The REACH SVHC compliance process involves monitoring the List of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) published by ECHA. Any product containing more than 0.1% SVHC by weight must be accompanied by strict documentation and effective supply chain communication. Manufacturers must notify customers if their products contain SVHCs, keep material declarations up to date, and check monthly for new additions to the REACH SVHC Candidate List 2025.
REACH Substance Registration Requirements
Every chemical used in manufacturing must be evaluated. The REACH regulation sets precise requirements for the registration of substances. Manufacturers must submit full toxicology and exposure reports, even for small amounts. Utilize digital management tools to track submissions, update data in real-time, and ensure complete REACH compliance annually.
Material declarations document the chemical makeup of every electronic product or component. To obtain certification, suppliers and manufacturers must provide accurate and current declarations and update them with every change. This supports robust supply chain compliance and regulatory audits, giving regulators proof of ongoing adherence to chemical restrictions.
Supply Chain Management for Compliance
Strong supply chain management ensures compliance with both upstream and downstream products. Every supplier must follow best practices for supply chain RoHS and REACH management. This includes regular training, material composition updates, contract terms for compliance responsibilities, and thorough supplier monitoring. Regular audits keep all partners alert to chemical restrictions and changing EU compliance standards.
Testing Protocols and Product Certification
All manufacturers must use standardized laboratory testing methods for RoHS-restricted substances. Accredited laboratories use X-ray fluorescence (XRF) screening, wet chemistry, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. Sample preparation must meet IEC 62321 standards, and documentation must follow EN 50581 requirements. Solid product certification from reliable labs simplifies CE marking and supply chain compliance.
Environmental Regulations and Product Compliance
Product compliance becomes increasingly complex with annual revisions to environmental regulations. Manufacturers need ongoing access to regulatory advice and compliance testing. Following every new rule in material composition and chemical restrictions will protect both the company and end users. Every product must meet the requirements for electrical and electronic equipment, and all restricted materials must be carefully monitored.
The Connection Between RoHS and REACH
Though separate, RoHS and REACH share many common elements. Both aim to eliminate hazardous substances, promote safer alternatives, and increase transparency in the manufacturing process. For most electronics companies, RoHS and REACH compliance are inseparable steps toward responsible production.
RoHS vs. REACH often arises when determining which law takes precedence. The distinction is simple: RoHS applies to electronic components, while REACH regulates the broader use of chemicals. However, both demand strong supply chain RoHS REACH management. This means every supplier must provide accurate material declarations, traceable supplier declarations, and technical documentation, and verification through digital traceability and supply chain audits.
Modern compliance depends heavily on digital solutions. Using centralized systems helps monitor product certification, testing protocols, and supplier data. Many manufacturers integrate such systems into enterprise resource planning tools for continuous tracking.
Common Mistakes in RoHS and REACH Compliance
Even experienced manufacturers face challenges. Some common mistakes in RoHS and REACH compliance include incomplete supplier data, a lack of testing verification, or missing updates from evolving regulations. Other frequent errors are relying on outdated REACH compliance checklist templates or ignoring minor substances below detection limits that later appear on the SVHC list.
Another issue is neglecting REACH substance registration requirements when small quantities of chemicals seem insignificant. Once the total volume exceeds the REACH substance registration threshold (one tonne per year), complete registration becomes mandatory. Missing this step can lead to shipment delays, product withdrawal, or fines.
Certivo advises maintaining open communication with suppliers, conducting periodic tests, and reviewing compliance updates on a quarterly basis. Proper management avoids disruptions and ensures full conformity with both directives.
What 2025 Taught Manufacturers
First, quarterly supplier audits worked better than the traditional yearly reviews. Companies doing this spotted material composition changes early — before they became customs headaches.
Second, those who put their money into digital compliance tracking systems saved themselves serious trouble. They caught new SVHC updates faster, stayed aligned with shifting standards, and didn’t have to halt shipments for “paperwork” reasons.
And third, anyone leaning only on supplier declarations without lab verification paid the price — literally. Customs rejections, inspection delays, and unnecessary storage fees piled up. In other words: trust, but verify.
What’s Coming in 2026
Next year, enforcement gets tougher. Starting July 2026, new CLP labelling rules kick in — clearer hazard communication, not just on packaging but online too. That means marketing and regulatory teams will have to start talking more often than they’d like.
Over in China, RoHS limits will tighten to mirror EU standards beginning January 2026. Global manufacturers can’t treat these as separate projects anymore — supply chains are too interconnected for that. And if that wasn’t enough, REACH registration fees climbed nearly 20% this April, making procrastination more expensive than ever.
What to Do Now
If you want a smoother 2026, start early.
By March, map every chemical supplier — especially smaller ones — to spot any registration gaps. Schedule XRF screening tests for new product lines before second-quarter launches. Train procurement teams (yes, the busy ones) on the updated SVHC notification rules so that nothing slips through in documentation.
Also, keep an eye on those exemption expiration dates — medical and automotive sectors in particular have a few sunsetting soon, and renewals aren’t automatic. Build a bit of buffer time into product development cycles. It’s cheaper to test twice than to recall once.
The Long Game
Compliance isn’t a box you tick off once a year; it’s more like a muscle you keep in shape. The companies that treat it that way — as a continuous process — glide through audits while others scramble.
Regular conversations between design teams, suppliers, and testing labs save everyone from last-minute chaos. Some manufacturers have even started setting their internal substance limits slightly below regulatory thresholds — smart move, considering how raw material batches can fluctuate.
And honestly, the best insurance policy here? Partnering with people who live and breathe compliance. Specialists who see regulation changes before they hit your inbox. Because reacting too late costs more than preparing too soon.
Certivo’s Perspective: Your Compliance Partner
Certivo helps global manufacturers navigate RoHS and REACH compliance regulations with hands-on support and clear, step-by-step instructions. Certivo collaborates with engineering teams, supply chain managers, and regulatory officers to develop comprehensive compliance documentation and training. Certivo’s experts stay up-to-date with every new change in EU compliance and provide clients with step-by-step guidance on organizing compliance testing, registration, and audits. Certivo believes every company deserves a straightforward path to reliable, ongoing regulatory compliance and product success.
Both large and small manufacturers must comply with regulatory requirements. The RoHS directive and REACH regulation form the backbone of chemical safety in Europe. You must monitor every step in your production line, test each supplied batch, and review all compliance documentation before releasing finished goods. Building efficient, open supplier compliance networks ensures continuous access to RoHS and REACH updates, restricted substances policy, and material declarations best practices.
Conclusion
Compliance today is more than a legal requirement; it reflects corporate responsibility and technical excellence. Understanding and maintaining RoHS and REACH compliance demonstrates a commitment to producing safer products and operating sustainably. Manufacturers that prioritize compliance not only protect their market access but also build lasting trust with customers and regulators.
At Certivo, we continue to guide manufacturers through every step — from material testing to certification — ensuring seamless adherence to both RoHS and REACH regulations. By building strong internal systems and staying informed about updates, every manufacturer can achieve full EU compliance in electronics manufacturing and operate confidently in a rapidly changing global market.