GDPR
EU regulation for personal data protection and privacy
REACH
EU regulation for chemical registration, evaluation, authorisation, restriction.
Quick Verdict
GDPR protects personal data privacy globally for EU residents, mandating rights and accountability. REACH regulates chemical risks in EU markets, requiring registration and safety dossiers. Companies adopt GDPR for compliance and trust, REACH for market access and safety.
GDPR
Regulation (EU) 2016/679 General Data Protection Regulation
Key Features
- Extraterritorial scope applies to non-EU entities targeting EU residents
- Accountability principle requires demonstrable compliance measures
- Fines up to 4% of global annual turnover
- Enhanced data subject rights including erasure and portability
- Mandatory 72-hour personal data breach notifications
REACH
Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH)
Key Features
- Shifts burden to industry for chemical risk data
- Mandatory registration for substances over 1 tonne/year
- Authorisation regime for SVHCs with sunset dates
- EU-wide restrictions on unacceptable chemical risks
- Supply-chain SDS and SVHC communication duties
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
GDPR Details
What It Is
Regulation (EU) 2016/679, known as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), is a directly applicable EU regulation. It modernizes data privacy, protecting personal data of EU individuals with global reach via extraterritorial scope. Its risk-based accountability approach mandates demonstrating compliance through measures like DPIAs.
Key Components
- Seven core principles: lawfulness, purpose limitation, minimization, accuracy, storage limitation, integrity/confidentiality, accountability.
- Enhanced data subject rights: access, rectification, erasure (right to be forgotten), portability, objection.
- Obligations include DPO appointment, Records of Processing Activities (ROPA), 72-hour breach notifications.
- Enforcement via fines up to €20M or 4% global turnover; one-stop-shop for cross-border cases.
Why Organizations Use It
Mandatory for processing EU data, it ensures legal compliance, mitigates massive fines, manages risks from breaches/transfers. Builds trust, inspires global standards (e.g., LGPD, CCPA), enables secure Digital Single Market participation.
Implementation Overview
Involves gap analysis, policy updates, training, DPIAs, DPO designation. Applies to all sizes processing EU data, globally. No certification but ongoing audits by DPAs; two-year transition highlighted complexity for SMEs.
REACH Details
What It Is
REACH (Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006) is a directly applicable EU regulation governing the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals. Its primary purpose is to ensure a high level of protection for human health and the environment from chemical risks while promoting innovation. It employs a responsibility shift to industry, requiring manufacturers and importers to generate and submit data on substances.
Key Components
- Four pillars: Registration (>1 tonne/year), Evaluation (dossier checks), Authorisation (SVHCs on Annex XIV), Restriction (Annex XVII bans/limits).
- Technical annexes (I-XVII) detail data requirements, SDS rules, exemptions.
- Built on risk-based assessments, Chemical Safety Reports (CSRs) for >10 tonnes/year.
- Continuous compliance model with no certification but ECHA submissions and national enforcement.
Why Organizations Use It
- Legal obligation for EU market access; penalties for non-compliance.
- Manages supply-chain risks, avoids market bans.
- Drives substitution, enhances ESG reputation.
- Builds stakeholder trust via transparency (Article 33 SVHC info).
Implementation Overview
- Phased: gap analysis, inventory, dossiers, monitoring.
- Applies to manufacturers/importers/downstream users in chemicals/manufacturing.
- EU/EEA scope; ongoing audits, no central certification.
Key Differences
| Aspect | GDPR | REACH |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Personal data protection and privacy | Chemical substance registration and risk management |
| Industry | All sectors processing EU personal data globally | Chemicals, manufacturing, importers into EU |
| Nature | Mandatory EU regulation with extraterritorial reach | Mandatory EU regulation for chemical lifecycle |
| Testing | Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) | Chemical safety assessments and dossier evaluations |
| Penalties | Up to 4% global turnover or €20M | Effective, proportionate, dissuasive national fines |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about GDPR and REACH
GDPR FAQ
REACH FAQ
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