What is a Restriction List?
A restriction list within chemical management is a tool used to control and limit the use of particularly hazardous substances in products, processes, and operations. The purpose of a restriction list is to protect human health and the environment by preventing the spread of chemicals that may cause harm, both in the short and long term.
The list typically includes substances that are banned, restricted, or being phased out, often due to their properties such as being carcinogenic, reprotoxic, allergenic, persistent (difficult to degrade), or bioaccumulative (accumulating in living organisms). The substances covered are often based on national and international legislation, such as the EU’s chemical regulation REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals), as well as other frameworks like RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances in electronics) and CLP (Classification, Labelling and Packaging of chemicals).
Companies use restriction lists as part of their chemical management systems to ensure compliance with applicable laws and internal requirements. The lists can also serve as a tool in substitution work — that is, replacing hazardous substances with less hazardous alternatives. By following a restriction list, organizations can reduce the risk of legal violations, harm to employees, negative environmental impacts, and damage to their brand.
A restriction list is regularly updated to reflect new scientific findings and changes in legislation. It can be publicly available, such as those published by authorities, or internal and specifically tailored to a company or industry. In summary, the restriction list is a key tool in the systematic work toward achieving safe and sustainable chemical management.
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In this article, we examine what restriction lists are, who regulates them and how you can use them in your chemical-management process.
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