RIGHT TO KNOW

Article 33(2) of the REACH Regulation entitles consumers to request information from suppliers about the presence of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) from the REACH Candidate List in an article.

Suppliers are obliged to provide the relevant information on SVHC and on the safe use of the article within 45 days.

This obligation duty only covers articles containing SVHC in a concentration of more than 0.1 % of their weight. As a minimum, suppliers have to communicate the name of the SVHC.

They are not obliged to inform about other substances. Preferably, as good professional practice, companies also inform consumers if articles do not contain SVHC above 0.1 %. If a company does not reply to requests, consumers can approach their national competent authority for REACH enforcement.

The right to know does not extend to sectors governed by separate regulations such as, e.g., liquid or powdery products (e.g. paints, varnishes), medical devices, drugs, foods, cosmetics, detergents and cleaning agents, animal feed, plant protection agents and biocides.