Mandatory substantiation

„REACH-compliant"

Annex I No. 4a UCPD as amended by EmpCo (EU 2024/825) + EU REACH 1907/2006

What does it mean?

Compliance with the REACH Regulation (EU 1907/2006) is mandatory for all chemicals manufactured or imported in the EU. The mere claim "REACH-compliant" constitutes a misleading commercial practice pursuant to § 5 UWG and Annex I No. 4a UCPD as amended by EmpCo from 27.09.2026, as it represents a trivial claim without substantial information. To communicate the claim in a legally compliant manner, it is necessary to specifically state that the product is free from SVHC (substances of very high concern) according to the current REACH candidate list, and to provide evidence through independent laboratory analysis.

Typical phrasings

"Our product is REACH-compliant"
"REACH-compliant paints"
"Complies with REACH requirements"

Required evidence

SVHC negative test (laboratory report)
ECHA database verification (documentation)

Rechtsgrundlage (Originalwortlaut)

Anhang I Nr. 4a UCPD (i.d.F. EmpCo) — generische Umweltaussage ohne anerkannte Nachweise

Quelle: Richtlinie (EU) 2024/825 (EmpCo) — verbindlich ist ausschließlich die im Amtsblatt der Europäischen Union veröffentlichte Fassung.

DEDeutsch (amtlich, DE-Fassung Amtsblatt)aufklappen

„Treffen einer allgemeinen Umweltaussage, wobei der Gewerbetreibende die anerkannte hervorragende Umweltleistung, auf die sich die Aussage bezieht, nicht nachweisen kann."

ENEnglish (Official Journal, EN version)aufklappen

„Making a generic environmental claim for which the trader is not able to demonstrate recognised excellent environmental performance relevant to the claim."

FRFrançais (Journal officiel, version FR)aufklappen

„Présenter une allégation environnementale générique au sujet de laquelle le professionnel n'est pas en mesure de démontrer l'excellente performance environnementale reconnue en rapport avec l'allégation."

NLNederlands (Publicatieblad, NL versie)aufklappen

„Het maken van een generieke milieuclaim zonder dat de handelaar erkende voortreffelijke milieuprestaties kan aantonen die relevant zijn voor de claim."

Volltext bei EUR-Lex öffnen

Does your website use „REACH-compliant"?

Check for free whether your website is affected.

Free Check

General information, not legal advice

Empcora is a pure checking and documentation service and provides general information only on the legal situation based on the EmpCo Directive (EU 2024/825) and the unfair-competition / consumer-protection law transposing it in your jurisdiction including references. This is not individual legal advice and includes neither the rewriting nor the drafting of texts. No liability or warranty is assumed for the correctness, completeness or up-to-dateness of the analysis, nor for any legal consequences. The legal assessment of an individual case rests with an admitted law firm or lawyer.