ECHA REF-12 Results: 1 in 3 Imported Substances Found Missing REACH Registration

On December 10, 2025, the ECHA Enforcement Forum released the results of a major EU-wide targeted enforcement project focused on imported goods. The project revealed significant compliance gaps, with inspectors finding that one in three substances in mixtures was missing a mandatory REACH registration.

Key findings
Inspectors across 29 EEA countries conducted 2,603 targeted controls, checking imported substances, mixtures, and consumer articles for compliance with REACH registration, restriction, and authorization requirements. Beyond the high rate of missing registrations, controls also identified numerous instances where imported consumer products contained restricted hazardous substances in concentrations exceeding legal limits.
These findings highlight the ongoing challenge of ensuring that imported goods meet the same safety standards as those manufactured within the EU. The results underscore the need for importers to rigorously verify their supply chains to avoid market access issues and potential penalties.
Full details and statistical breakdowns of the inspection results are available in the official Forum REF-12 Project Report.