EU REACH chemical testing procedures for automotive interior parts
Date：2025-11-21 10:26:10 Classification
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Automotive interior parts exported to the EU must comply with the chemical safety requirements of the REACH Regulation (EC No 1907/2006). While the complete vehicle is subject to the EU Type Approval framework, interior components (such as seats, dashboards, door panels, headliners, and carpets) still require separate REACH chemical testing to ensure they do not contain excessive levels of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) or substances restricted in Annex XVII.
The following is the complete procedure for obtaining EU REACH chemical testing for automotive interior components (latest version, 2025):
I. Applicable Product Scope
The following automotive interior components typically require REACH testing:
Seat Systems: Fabric/leather upholstery, foam filling, plastic frame, metal slide rails
Dashboard and Center Console: PVC/ABS/TPO surface, foam layer, electronic button housing
Door Interior Panels: Artificial leather, non-woven fabric, sound-absorbing cotton, plastic trim
Headliner and Sun Visors: Knitted fabric, PU foam, adhesives
Carpets and Floor Mats: Rubber base + fiber surface, TPE granules, adhesive backing
Sealing Strips and Hoses: EPDM rubber, silicone tubing
Note: If electronic heating elements are included (such as heated seats), RoHS directive compliance is also required.
II. Core Testing Items (by Material)
Material Type
Textile/Leather Fabrics - Full SVHC Screening (Currently 251 items)
Plastic Parts (PP/ABS/PVC, etc.) - SVHC Screening
Rubber/Silicone Parts - PAHs (Petroleum-based Rubbers)
Foam Fillers (PU/Memory Foam) - Flame Retardants (TCEP, TDCP, TCPP)
Metal Fittings (Fasteners, Brackets) - Cadmium (Cd)
Adhesives/Coatings - SVHCs (e.g., Boric Acid, DIBP)
Key Monitored Substances (High-Frequency Non-Compliance Items in 2025):
Phthalates (Migration from PVC Plasticizers)
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) (Carbon Black Filled Rubber/Plastics)
Short-Chain Chlorinated Paraffins SCCP (Flame retardant, lubricant)
Bisphenol A (BPA) (for some epoxy resin coatings)
III. REACH Testing Procedure (6 steps)
Step 1: Product Disassembly and Bill of Materials (BOM)
Disassemble interior components into homogeneous materials (e.g., fabric, foam, plastic clips, metal springs)
Compile a BOM, specifying for each material:
Name (e.g., "Black TPO leather", "Gray PET needle-punched nonwoven fabric")
Weight percentage
Supplier information (for traceability)
Tip: Samples of the same material, color, and batch can be combined to reduce costs.
Step 2: Selecting a Compliant Testing Organization
We recommend selecting a laboratory with the following qualifications:
ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation
Ability to screen for REACH SVHC 251 items
Familiarity with automotive supply chain requirements
Ability to issue English reports with the CNAS mark (for OEM audits)
Recommended Organization: Dezewei Testing CNAS Registration No.: L8083
Step 3: Sample Submission and Test Plan Confirmation
Sample Requirements:
≥10g of each homogeneous material (≥20mL for liquids/adhesives)
One complete component (for disassembly verification)
Provide a Material Safety Data Sheet (SDS) or Supplier Declaration (if applicable)
Recommended Testing Strategy:
Basic Package: SVHC 251 items + Appendix XVII critical items (phthalates, PAHs, cadmium, etc.)
Tighter Package: Add customer-specified substances (such as those on Volkswagen's prohibited list) Step 4: Laboratory Analysis (5–7 working days)
Common Detection Methods:
GC-MS: Phthalate, PAHs, Organic Solvents
ICP-MS: Heavy Metals (Cd, Pb, Hg)
HPLC/LC-MS: Azo Dyes, Flame Retardants, Bisphenols
XRF Initial Screening + Chemical Confirmation: Rapid screening followed by accurate quantification
Step 5: Obtaining the REACH Test Report
The report should include:
Sample description and testing standards (e.g., ECHA Guidance, EN ISO 17025)
Measured results (ppm or %) of all target substances
Conclusion of compliance with SVHC ≥0.1%
Laboratory accreditation mark (CNAS/CMA)
ECHA registration number (if registered)
Note: REACH does not have a "certificate," only a test report + Declaration of Conformity (DoC).
Step 6: Technical Documentation Preparation and Supply Chain Transmission
Prepare the REACH Declaration of Conformity (DoC)
Retain technical files (including reports, BOM, and supplier declarations) for at least 10 years
Provide SCIP notification information to downstream customers (e.g., OEMs) (if containing SVHC ≥0.1%)
Since 2021, products containing SVHC ≥0.1% must be notified in the ECHA SCIP database.
IV. Cost and Timeframe Reference (2025)
Project Timeline
Single Material (e.g., fabric) 5–7 days
Complete Interior Trim Set (5–8 materials) 7–10 days
Expedited Service (3 days) 3–5 days
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