REACH
EU regulation for chemical registration, evaluation, authorisation, restriction
ISO 27018
International code of practice for public cloud PII protection.
Quick Verdict
REACH mandates chemical safety registration and restrictions for EU manufacturers and importers, ensuring risk management. ISO 27018 provides voluntary privacy controls for cloud PII processors. Companies adopt REACH for legal compliance, ISO 27018 for trust and procurement advantage.
REACH
Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH)
ISO 27018
ISO/IEC 27018:2025 Code of practice for PII protection
Key Features
- Privacy controls for public cloud PII processors
- Subprocessor transparency and location disclosures
- Customer breach notification requirements
- Prohibits unauthorized PII use like advertising
- Supports GDPR processor obligations
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
REACH Details
What It Is
REACH (Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006) is a directly applicable EU regulation establishing a comprehensive framework for managing chemical risks. Its primary purpose is protecting human health and the environment through industry-led identification, assessment, and control of substance hazards across their lifecycle. It employs a risk-based approach with tonnage-triggered data requirements and adaptive controls.
Key Components
- Four pillars: Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, Restriction.
- Detailed annexes (I-XVII) defining dossier content, SDS rules, SVHC criteria (Annex XIV), restrictions (Annex XVII).
- Built on industry responsibility, data-sharing, and continuous updates.
- No certification; compliance via ECHA dossier submissions and national enforcement.
Why Organizations Use It
Mandatory for EU manufacturers/importers; ensures market access, avoids penalties/fines. Reduces risks from non-compliance like product bans/recalls. Drives substitution, innovation, supply-chain transparency; builds stakeholder trust and ESG alignment.
Implementation Overview
Phased: gap analysis, substance inventory, dossier preparation (IUCLID), SDS/communication setup, monitoring. Applies to chemicals/mixtures/articles sectors EU/EEA-wide; ongoing via cross-functional teams, audits, tools like REACH-IT. (178 words)
ISO 27018 Details
What It Is
ISO/IEC 27018:2025 is a code of practice extending ISO/IEC 27001 and ISO/IEC 27002 to protect personally identifiable information (PII) in public clouds, where providers act as PII processors. Its scope targets cloud-specific privacy risks like multi-tenancy and cross-border flows, using a risk-based, control-oriented methodology.
Key Components
- ~25–30 additional privacy controls on consent, purpose limitation, transparency, accountability
- Core principles: data minimization, accuracy, security safeguards
- Integrated into ISO 27001 ISMS; assessed via Statement of Applicability (SoA) during audits, no standalone certification
Why Organizations Use It
- Accelerates procurement, builds CSP trust
- Aligns with GDPR Article 28, HIPAA processor duties
- Mitigates risks, improves cyber insurance
- Differentiates in competitive cloud markets
Implementation Overview
- Builds on existing ISO 27001; gap analysis, SoA updates
- Key steps: subprocessor disclosures, breach protocols, staff training
- Applies to CSPs of all sizes globally; requires annual third-party audits
Key Differences
| Aspect | REACH | ISO 27018 |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Chemicals registration, evaluation, authorisation, restriction | PII protection in public cloud services |
| Industry | Chemicals, manufacturing, all EU importers | Cloud service providers, all sectors |
| Nature | Mandatory EU regulation | Voluntary code of practice |
| Testing | Dossier submission, substance evaluation | ISO 27001 audits with privacy controls |
| Penalties | Fines, market bans by Member States | Loss of certification, no legal penalties |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about REACH and ISO 27018
REACH FAQ
ISO 27018 FAQ
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