Definition
ECHA, headquartered in Helsinki (Finland), was established in 2007 under the REACH regulation. It does not directly regulate cosmetics, which fall under EU Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009 supervised by the European Commission, but its work on allergen classification feeds directly into cosmetics labeling requirements.
For perfumers and niche houses, ECHA's substance database (ECHA CHEM) is the reference for checking regulatory status of specific fragrance molecules, including restriction levels and classification data.
Relevance to perfumery
Under REACH, fragrance materials are classified as chemical substances and must be registered by manufacturers or importers if used above specified volume thresholds. ECHA's harmonized classification and labeling (CLP regulation) requires that certain fragrance allergens be declared on product labels when present above threshold concentrations (ECHA, accessed 2026-05-27).
ECHA works alongside the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) in reviewing the safety of fragrance allergens. The 2023 expansion of the EU mandatory allergen declaration list from 26 to over 80 substances was driven by SCCS opinions adopted through ECHA's regulatory process. For niche perfumers using natural materials with complex chemical compositions, REACH and CLP compliance requires detailed material safety data (ECHA, IFRA, accessed 2026-05-27).