REACH
EU regulation for chemical registration, evaluation, authorisation, restriction
SAMA CSF
Saudi framework for financial cybersecurity governance.
Quick Verdict
REACH mandates chemical risk management across EU supply chains, while SAMA CSF requires cybersecurity maturity for Saudi financial firms. Organizations adopt REACH for EU market access; SAMA CSF ensures regulatory compliance and resilience.
REACH
Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH)
Key Features
- Shifts burden to industry for chemical registration over 1 tonne/year
- Four pillars: Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, Restriction
- SVHC Candidate List triggers Article 33 communication duties
- Tonnage-based escalating data and safety assessment requirements
- Annex XVII enforces EU-wide substance restrictions and bans
SAMA CSF
SAMA Cyber Security Framework Version 1.0
Key Features
- Six-level maturity model targeting Level 3 minimum
- Four core domains with detailed subdomains
- Board oversight and independent CISO requirements
- Third-party risk management and outsourcing controls
- Alignment with NIST, ISO 27001 standards
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 governing chemicals lifecycle. Its primary purpose is protecting human health and environment by requiring industry to identify, register, and manage chemical risks. Scope covers substances, mixtures, and articles; key approach shifts responsibility to manufacturers/importers for data generation via risk-based assessments.
Key Components
- Four pillars: Registration (>1 tonne/year), Evaluation (dossier/substance checks), Authorisation (SVHC Annex XIV), Restriction (Annex XVII).
- Annexes (I-XVII) detail data requirements, SDS rules, lists.
- Built on industry-led Chemical Safety Reports (CSR), exposure scenarios.
- Compliance model: continuous, no certification but ECHA submissions, national enforcement.
Why Organizations Use It
Mandated for EU market access; avoids fines, market bans. Drives substitution, supply-chain transparency, innovation. Enhances ESG, reduces liability, builds stakeholder trust.
Implementation Overview
Phased: inventory, gap analysis, dossiers via IUCLID, SDS/communication. Applies to manufacturers/importers/downstream users EU-wide; complex for globals. Ongoing monitoring, audits; no central certification.
SAMA CSF Details
What It Is
The Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority Cyber Security Framework (SAMA CSF), Version 1.0 (May 2017), is a mandatory regulatory framework for SAMA-regulated financial institutions in Saudi Arabia. It prescribes principle-based, outcome-oriented controls across governance and operations to detect, resist, respond to, and recover from cyber threats, emphasizing a risk-based maturity model.
Key Components
- Four principal domains: Cyber Security Leadership and Governance, Risk Management and Compliance, Operations and Technology, Third-Party Cyber Security.
- Numerous subdomains with principles, objectives, and control considerations (e.g., IAM, incident management, payment systems).
- Six-level maturity model (Level 3 minimum: structured policies, standards, procedures, KPIs).
- Aligned with NIST, ISO 27001, PCI-DSS; self-assessment via questionnaire, SAMA audits.
Why Organizations Use It
- Mandatory compliance for banks, insurers, finance firms to avoid penalties, audits.
- Enhances resilience, reduces incidents; strategic advantages like partnerships, efficiency.
- Builds trust, competitive edge in digital finance; integrates with enterprise risk management.
Implementation Overview
- Phased approach: gap analysis, risk assessment, control roadmap, deployment, monitoring, audits.
- Targets SAMA-regulated entities; scalable by size; requires board sponsorship, CISO, evidence collection.
Key Differences
| Aspect | REACH | SAMA CSF |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Chemicals lifecycle: registration, evaluation, authorisation, restriction | Cybersecurity: governance, risk mgmt, operations, third-party controls |
| Industry | Chemicals, manufacturing, importers EU-wide | Saudi financial institutions: banks, insurance, financing |
| Nature | Mandatory EU regulation directly applicable | Mandatory framework with maturity levels |
| Testing | Dossier evaluation by ECHA, substance checks | Self-assessments, maturity model audits |
| Penalties | National fines, effective/proportionate/dissuasive | Supervisory actions, fines up to SAR 5M |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about REACH and SAMA CSF
REACH FAQ
SAMA CSF FAQ
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