REACH stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of CHemicals. It is the binding regulation on chemicals No. 1907/2006 of the European Union, which entered into force on June 1, 2007. As an EU Regulation REACH is equally and directly valid in all member states.

Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) evaluates potential risks from new and existing chemicals and finds ways to prevent or reduce pollution before it gets into the environment. Its so called “Chemical Substance Inventory” or “TSCA Inventory” or simply “the Inventory,” plays a central role in the regulation of most industrial chemicals in the United States. Chemical Substance Inventory contains all existing chemical substances manufactured, processed, or imported in the United States that do not qualify for an exemption or exclusion under TSCA. A TSCA certificate is a self-declaration document to show customs that all chemical substances imported into the United States either comply with the Toxic Substance Control Act (TCSA) at the time of import (positive certification) or not subject to TSCA requirements (negative certification). Customs can refuse entry of any shipment that does not have a TSCA certification.

PFAS (perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl substances - formerly also abbreviated to PFC) stands for a group of several thousand individual chemicals. They are characterized by the fact that they are very stable and water, dirt and grease repellent. The risks arising from the manufacture of PFAS are currently not adequately controlled. In the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, the European Commission has therefore announced a comprehensive package of measures to address the use of PFAS and the resulting contamination. The restriction of the entire group of PFAS in the EU chemicals regulation REACH (Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006) is part of this package of measures. I.e. after adoption this restriction catalog will fall under the REACH regulation.