What is the hansonled led module REACH compliance?

What is REACH?

REACH stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals. It is the European Union's main regulation for chemical substances, formally known as Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006. It came into force on 1 June 2007 and is run by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) in Helsinki. REACH applies in all 27 EU member states and the three EEA countries, and it covers any company that exports goods into the EU, wherever those goods are manufactured.

The regulation rests on one principle: no data, no market. A manufacturer or importer must be able to show that the substances in a product are safe to use. If a restricted substance is present above the legal limit, the product cannot be legally sold in the EU.

Why REACH compliance matters for LED modules

An LED module is not just a light source. It contains a PCB, LEDs, solder, resin or silicone encapsulation, wires, and connectors. Each of these components is made of chemical substances, and some of them — lead in solder, certain plasticizers in cable insulation, heavy metals in pigments — sit on REACH's watch lists.

For sign makers and distributors in Europe, the legal responsibility rests with the importer. A supplier's compliance work in China does not remove the importer's obligations. If a shipment is stopped at customs or flagged by market surveillance because of a restricted substance, the importer carries the cost. That is why sourcing from a led module manufacturer that can supply proper REACH documentation matters.

What REACH controls in an LED module

REACH restricts substances through several mechanisms. For LED products, two lists matter most:

• The SVHC Candidate List. Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) are chemicals that are carcinogenic, mutagenic, toxic to reproduction, or persistent in the environment. ECHA updates the list twice a year, and it currently holds more than 240 substances. If an article contains an SVHC above 0.1% by weight, the supplier must inform customers and, in some cases, notify ECHA's SCIP database.
• Annex XVII, the Restriction List. This sets binding concentration limits on specific substances in products. For example, phthalates in plasticized materials are limited to 0.1%, and several heavy metals are restricted across a wide range of articles.

For LED modules, the substances most often checked are lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, and phthalates in plastic housings and cable insulation.

REACH and RoHS: what is the difference?

RoHS applies only to electrical and electronic equipment and sets maximum limits for a defined list of restricted substances. REACH is wider: it covers substances, mixtures, and articles across all industries, and it works through registration, authorization, and restriction rather than a simple limit list. The two regulations overlap — lead and phthalates appear in both — but passing one does not automatically mean passing the other. A reliable supplier manages both.

How HansonLed ensures REACH compliance

HansonLed has manufactured LED lighting products since 2013 and ships to customers in more than 80 countries, including many across Europe. REACH compliance is built into normal production rather than treated as an afterthought:

• Material control. Components come from qualified suppliers, and incoming materials are checked against restricted substance requirements before they enter production.
• Testing. Modules are tested to confirm that restricted substances stay below the applicable limits.
• Documentation. HansonLed can provide REACH declarations and test reports so importers have the paperwork they need for customs and for their own customers.
• Certifications. The factory holds ISO9001, CE, RoHS, PSE, UL, and Reach certifications covering the main markets it serves.

What to ask before you order

If you are sourcing LED modules for the European market, ask your supplier for:

• A REACH declaration or certificate of compliance for the specific module model you plan to buy.
• A recent test report showing restricted substance levels, not a generic letter.
• Confirmation that the SVHC declaration refers to the current candidate list, since the list changes twice a year.

Conclusion

REACH compliance is not a one-time sticker on a box. It is an ongoing process of controlling materials, testing products, and keeping documentation current. For European importers, it protects market access and reduces risk. HansonLed treats REACH as part of everyday production, so when you order led modules for channel letters or any other signage lighting, you receive products that are ready for the European market — with the documents to prove it.