RoHS and REACH compliance for custom parts
What RoHS and REACH mean for machined and fabricated parts: restricted substances, hexavalent chromate and cadmium finishes, SVHC communication, declarations, and why North American buyers increasingly require them.
RoHS and REACH are two European Union rules that control hazardous substances, and they increasingly show up as buyer requirements on custom parts even in North America. RoHS restricts specific substances such as lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium and certain flame retardants and phthalates in electrical and electronic equipment. REACH is a much broader chemicals regulation built around a growing list of substances of very high concern. For a machined or fabricated part the practical impact is in the finish and the paperwork: avoid restricted platings and chromates, pick compliant materials, and be ready to supply a declaration.
RoHS in one paragraph
RoHS, the Restriction of Hazardous Substances, limits ten substances in electrical and electronic equipment sold in the EU. The ones that bite custom parts are hexavalent chromium, found in the old yellow chromate conversion and some passivates, cadmium plating, and lead. The usual fixes are trivalent chromate instead of hexavalent, and swapping cadmium for zinc-nickel or another compliant plating. Compliance is shown with a declaration, and the finished product carries CE marking.
REACH in one paragraph
REACH, the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals, governs chemicals placed on the EU market. For parts makers the key mechanism is the Candidate List of substances of very high concern, or SVHC. If an article contains an SVHC above 0.1 percent by weight, you have a duty to communicate that down the supply chain, and some substances need authorisation or are restricted outright. REACH is broader than RoHS and is not limited to electronics.
RoHS vs REACH
| RoHS | REACH | |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Electrical and electronic equipment | Almost all chemicals and articles |
| Mechanism | Fixed list of restricted substances with thresholds | Growing SVHC Candidate List plus restrictions and authorisation |
| Typical trigger | Selling electronics into the EU | Placing any article on the EU market with an SVHC above 0.1 percent |
| What you supply | A declaration of conformity | SVHC communication down the supply chain |
What it means when you order parts
- Specify the finish carefully. Ask for trivalent rather than hexavalent chromate, and avoid cadmium unless a compliant alternative is impossible. See zinc plating vs galvanizing and anodizing vs powder coating for compliant finish choices.
- Ask for documentation up front. A compliant shop can supply a RoHS declaration and respond to an SVHC request. Put it in the RFQ so it is quoted, not discovered after the parts arrive.
- Mind the whole bill of materials. Fasteners, coatings and even markings can carry restricted substances.
Do North American buyers care?
Increasingly, yes. Many original equipment manufacturers apply RoHS and REACH globally to keep a single supply chain, and a growing number of customer contracts require the declarations even for domestic use. Designing for compliance from the start is cheaper than requalifying a part later.
What to send for a quote
The material, the finish you need and whether it must be free of hexavalent chromium, the compliance standard the part must meet, and whether you need a declaration supplied with the parts. Request quotes from Canadian plating and finishing shops that can certify compliance.
FAQ
What is the difference between RoHS and REACH?
RoHS restricts a fixed list of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. REACH is a much broader chemicals regulation covering almost all articles, built around a growing list of substances of very high concern.
Does RoHS apply to a machined metal part?
RoHS applies to electrical and electronic equipment, so a bare mechanical part is often out of scope. The restricted substances still matter when the part goes into an electronic assembly or carries a restricted finish such as hexavalent chromate or cadmium plating.
What is an SVHC under REACH?
A substance of very high concern on the REACH Candidate List. If an article contains one above 0.1 percent by weight, the supplier must communicate that down the chain, and some such substances are restricted or need authorisation.
Is hexavalent chromium allowed?
It is restricted under RoHS, which is why trivalent chromate and other alternatives have largely replaced the old yellow hexavalent chromate for compliant work.
Do I need RoHS compliance if I only sell in Canada?
Not by law, but many buyers now require it contractually and many manufacturers apply it globally, so designing for it is the safer default.
Last reviewed: October 2026. Related reading: zinc plating vs galvanizing and what is passivation.
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