Substance Policy - vdma.eu
Substance Policy
Managing problematic substances safely
Substance policy deals with the regulation of substances and the obligations associated with them. In the area of product-related environmental protection, such as the REACH Regulation or the RoHS Directive, substances used in products must not be hazardous.
Therefore, companies need to know which hazardous substances are contained in products they purchase, process and import. The topic of substance policy also impacts corporate occupational health and safety.
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The VDMA regulation cockpit offers compact factsheets on the most important regulations for the mechanical and plant engineering industry - comprehensible, practical and at a glance. You will find out which sectors are affected, what the timetable looks like, where there is a need for action and what sanctions are to be expected. A valuable guide for all companies that want to prepare for the new requirements at an early stage.
Factsheet: REACH
The EU is pursuing the right goal of minimizing its dependence on China in the steel sector. However, a holistic approach is required that takes the entire value chain into account.
The ECHA has published a proposal to restrict chromium(VI) substances. Comments on this proposal can be submitted as part of a public consultation. The VDMA asks affected companies to participate.
The Chemicals Package includes the 6th Omnibus (‘Chemicals’), a proposal to provide ECHA with additional resources and an action plan, including ‘Providing Clarity on PFAS’.
The VDMA regulatory cockpit provides you with a central, practical overview of current and upcoming regulations. It helps you identify relevant information at an early stage, evaluate it strategically, and derive concrete measures.
ECHA has been tasked by the European Commission to develop a proposal for the restriction of various chromium(VI) substances. The proposal was published at the end of April 2025 and can be commented on from mid-June.
EU substance policy is bringing about far-reaching regulatory changes that will have a lasting impact on mechanical and plant engineering - we have shed light on the challenges and prospects.
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are not only the focus of substance restrictions within the EU but are increasingly being restricted on the state-level in the USA.
Due to environmental and potential health hazards, the EU intends to restrict the broad group of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under the REACH regulation.
Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl compounds (PFAS) are currently polarizing opinion. The EU has come out in favor of a blanket ban on around 10,000 chemicals in this group of substances. At first glance, a well-intentioned approach to protecting the environment, but the announcement puts important industries at risk.
On 07.02.2023 ECHA has pre-published the restriction dossier on the broad restriction of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
The SCIP-Verbändeinformation, which was first developed in November 2020 together with eight other associations, has been revised.
Since the beginning of the year, suppliers in the EU have been obliged to report products containing substances of very high concern.
The EU Green Deal sets a high goal for a pollution-free environment. The Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability of October 2020 is one of the implementations of this goal.
What are the manufacturer obligations in the area of material compliance and how can they be fulfilled?
On 21 January 2021, the VDMA held its third web infoday with the main topic "Basics of the SCIP database".
The use of chemical substances shall be made traceable from production to end use in order to minimise risks for humans and the environment.
The expert opinion, commissioned jointly with ZVEI, BDI, BDLI and VDA, addresses the information to be provided via Article 33(1) REACH and the delayed provision of the database.
The VDMA held the second Web Info Day on 26 November 2020. In an exchange with over 400 participants, the event focused on the topics "SCIP" and "Material Compliance".
Events
not many companies are able to use sufficient solar power on their own premises. Against this background, we want to explore the opportunities and limits of power purchase agreements as a solution.
The annual conference Photovoltaics Equipment will take place on November 6, 2025 at PVA TePla in Wettenberg, following a kind invitation.
The series of workshops organized by the Efficiency Agency NRW (efa) provides practical support for NRW's mechanical and plant engineering industry in the introduction of circular business models - this offers enormous potential even in times of crisis.
In coordination with Mr. Vollert, we are pleased to invite you to a web conference of the Concrete Technology Group on: Thursday, November 6, 2025, 3 - 5 pm.
From 09.11.2025 to 12.11.2025, our partner MENA Business GmbH is organizing a business delegatio to Qatar (Doha) and the United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi / Dubai) on behalf of the German Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection and with the support of VDMA and in cooperation with the German-Emirati Chamber of Industry and Commerce (AHK UAE) and the Representative Office of German Business Qatar. The delegation trip is already fully booked. Applications for the waiting list will be accepted till August 11th.
Agritechnica, the world's leading trade fair for agricultural technology, will open its doors in Hanover from November 9 to 15, 2025.
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