REACH and RoHS Compliance for Organic Pigments

REACH and RoHS are the two most important chemical regulations for pigment buyers selling into European, US, and global markets. Non-compliance means seized shipments, recall costs, and reputational damage. Understanding what each regulation actually requires lets you specify the right pigments and audit your supplier with confidence.

REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals)

REACH is the EU regulation requiring chemical manufacturers and importers to register substances above 1 tonne/year with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and demonstrate safe use. For pigment buyers, the practical implication is two-fold: (1) the substance must be registered in the EU, and (2) it must not contain or release any Substance of Very High Concern (SVHC) above the 0.1% threshold.

REACH also references EU Directive 2002/61/EC which bans 24 specific aromatic amines from being released by azo dyes and pigments through reductive cleavage. This is the most common compliance issue for organic pigment buyers.

The 24 banned aromatic amines (full list)

Under EU Directive 2002/61/EC and German Consumer Goods Ordinance, these 24 aromatic amines are banned at concentrations above 30 mg/kg in any consumer product after reductive cleavage of azo bonds:

1. 4-aminobiphenyl (CAS 92-67-1)
2. Benzidine (CAS 92-87-5)
3. 4-chloro-o-toluidine (CAS 95-69-2)
4. 2-naphthylamine (CAS 91-59-8)
5. o-aminoazotoluene (CAS 97-56-3)
6. 5-nitro-o-toluidine (CAS 99-55-8)
7. 4-chloroaniline (CAS 106-47-8)
8. 4-methoxy-m-phenylenediamine (CAS 615-05-4)
9. 4,4’-diaminodiphenylmethane (CAS 101-77-9)
10. 3,3’-dichlorobenzidine (CAS 91-94-1)
11. 3,3’-dimethoxybenzidine (CAS 119-90-4)
12. 3,3’-dimethylbenzidine (CAS 119-93-7)
13. 4,4’-methylenedi-o-toluidine (CAS 838-88-0)
14. p-cresidine (CAS 120-71-8)
15. 4,4’-methylene-bis(2-chloroaniline) (CAS 101-14-4)
16. 4,4’-oxydianiline (CAS 101-80-4)
17. 4,4’-thiodianiline (CAS 139-65-1)
18. o-toluidine (CAS 95-53-4)
19. 4-methyl-m-phenylenediamine (CAS 95-80-7)
20. 2,4,5-trimethylaniline (CAS 137-17-7)
21. o-anisidine (CAS 90-04-0)
22. 4-amino-azobenzene (CAS 60-09-3)
23. 2,4-xylidine (CAS 95-68-1)
24. 2,6-xylidine (CAS 87-62-7)

Compliant azo pigments are tested per EN ISO 17234 (for leather) and EN ISO 14362 (for textiles) which detect any of these 24 amines after sodium dithionite cleavage. A complete 24-amines-free certificate states that the pigment passed both methods at the 30 mg/kg threshold.

RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances)

RoHS is the EU regulation restricting hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. It restricts 10 substances:

• Lead (Pb): max 0.1%
• Mercury (Hg): max 0.1%
• Cadmium (Cd): max 0.01%
• Hexavalent chromium (Cr VI): max 0.1%
• Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB): max 0.1%
• Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE): max 0.1%
• Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP): max 0.1%
• Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP): max 0.1%
• Dibutyl phthalate (DBP): max 0.1%
• Diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP): max 0.1%

Modern organic pigments are inherently free from heavy metals (lead, cadmium, mercury, chromium) because they are carbon-based molecules. The historical exception was lead chromate yellows and cadmium reds, both inorganic, both phased out under RoHS for any electronics application. If your supplier offers ONLY organic pigments, RoHS compliance is essentially built-in. Always request a written declaration regardless.

Required documentation from your pigment supplier

1. Safety Data Sheet (SDS): per GHS standards. Must list any classified hazards, handling precautions, and ecotoxicology data. Required by law for chemical products globally.

2. Certificate of Analysis (COA): batch-specific test results for color strength, particle size, purity, moisture content, ash content. Reference batch and date of manufacture.

3. REACH compliance declaration: states the substance is registered (or exempt as polymer/inorganic), and confirms no SVHC content above 0.1%.

4. 24-amines-free certificate: for azo pigments specifically, confirming testing per EN ISO 17234 and EN ISO 14362.

5. RoHS declaration: confirms no detectable lead, cadmium, mercury, or hexavalent chromium above threshold limits.

6. Optional but valuable: heavy metals test report (full ICP-MS scan), food-contact compliance (FDA / EU 10/2011) where applicable, country-specific certifications (NSF, IS, SASO, etc.).

How Kanani Pigment & Paste handles compliance

Every pigment grade we manufacture is REACH compliant and certified free from the 24 banned aromatic amines. All grades are RoHS compliant with no detectable lead, cadmium, mercury, or hexavalent chromium. Each shipment includes the Certificate of Analysis (batch-specific), Safety Data Sheet (GHS), REACH compliance declaration, and 24-amines-free certificate as standard documentation. Country-specific certifications (NSF for potable water, FDA for food contact, IS for India) are available on request. Contact +91 88499 95971 or [email protected] for technical compliance queries.

Recommended Grades from Kanani Pigment & Paste

The following Kanani Pigment & Paste grades are commonly specified in the contexts described in this guide. Click any product for full technical specifications, datasheets, and to request a free 50-100g evaluation sample.

• PY154: REACH and RoHS compliant benzimidazolone yellow.
• PR170: REACH compliant naphthol AS red, no banned amines.
• PR48:1: REACH and RoHS compliant BONA red, free from 24 banned amines.

For grade selection guidance specific to your binder system, processing temperature, or compliance requirements, contact our technical sales team at [email protected] or +91 88499 95971.