{"id":5309,"date":"2026-10-23T00:09:17","date_gmt":"2026-10-23T00:09:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koitorhardware.com\/?p=5309"},"modified":"2026-10-23T00:24:35","modified_gmt":"2026-10-23T00:24:35","slug":"reach-lead-restriction-brass-hardware-importers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koitorhardware.com\/de\/reach-lead-restriction-brass-hardware-importers\/","title":{"rendered":"REACH Lead Restriction Brass: A Buyer\u2019s Compliance Checklist"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>REACH lead restriction brass<\/strong> checks are not a blanket rule that every brass bathroom accessory is prohibited or automatically acceptable. EU REACH Annex XVII entry 63 has a specific scope for certain articles supplied to the general public that may be placed in a child\u2019s mouth during normal or reasonably foreseeable use, and it includes a stated derogation for brass alloys within a specified lead concentration. An importer should identify the exact article and accessible part, verify the alloy evidence, and match any testing or compliance conclusion to the current rule. This is a sourcing checklist, not a legal determination for a particular product.<\/p>\n<h2>What does REACH Annex XVII entry 63 cover?<\/h2>\n<p>Entry 63 of Annex XVII to REACH addresses lead in articles supplied to the general public when the article or an accessible part may, during normal or reasonably foreseeable use, be placed in the mouth by children. The entry states a lead concentration threshold of 0.05% by weight for the covered article or accessible part. It also describes a size-based presumption for the mouthability assessment: an article or accessible part is considered capable of being placed in the mouth by children if it is smaller than 5 cm in one dimension, or has a detachable or protruding part of that size.<\/p>\n<p>That wording does not make every small metal component automatically subject to the restriction in every context. The product\u2019s supply route, intended and foreseeable use, accessibility, exact geometry, and applicable exceptions all matter. A decorative brass detail, a mounting component, and an item intended for repeated handling may present different facts. Do not use a single measurement or material name as a substitute for reviewing the legal scope.<\/p>\n<p>The current <a href=\"https:\/\/echa.europa.eu\/pic-factsheet\/-\/pic-detail\/100.028.273\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">ECHA entry 63 factsheet<\/a> describes the restriction and its conditions. The applicable legal text is in <a href=\"https:\/\/eur-lex.europa.eu\/legal-content\/EN\/TXT\/?uri=CELEX%3A02006R1907-20260622\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">REACH Annex XVII, entry 63<\/a>. Buyers should check the operative text and any relevant amendments for the destination market at the time of placing a product on the market.<\/p>\n<h2>How should a buyer assess a brass part?<\/h2>\n<p>Start with product identity, not the supplier\u2019s shorthand description. \u201cBrass\u201d may refer to a family of copper-zinc alloys; it does not identify the exact alloy grade, composition, lot, or source. For a bathroom accessory or storage-hardware assembly, list the relevant components and determine which are accessible, removable, protruding, or otherwise relevant to the entry\u2019s use assessment.<\/p>\n<p>A REACH lead restriction brass assessment should distinguish legal scope from a material label: the importer is deciding whether the rule applies to the exact part, not whether brass is inherently safe or unsafe.<\/p>\n<p>A buyer\u2019s initial scope review should record:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The product model, SKU, intended users, sales channel, market, and whether it is supplied to the general public.<\/li>\n<li>The component drawing and revision, assembly position, accessibility, and whether it can be detached or protrudes.<\/li>\n<li>The component\u2019s dimensions and normal or reasonably foreseeable use; do not assume that a size screen alone decides applicability.<\/li>\n<li>The material name and exact alloy designation claimed by the supplier.<\/li>\n<li>Whether the component is genuinely an article or part comprising a brass alloy, rather than a plated steel or another material described loosely as brass-colored.<\/li>\n<li>Which party owns the product-specific compliance decision and what evidence supports it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If an assembly contains both brass and non-brass parts, map them separately. A brass component\u2019s evidence does not establish the composition of a steel body, coating, fastener, or other part. Similarly, a general supplier declaration for a family of products may not identify the exact component or revision being purchased.<\/p>\n<h2>What does the brass-alloy derogation mean?<\/h2>\n<p>Entry 63 contains a derogation for articles and parts of articles comprising brass alloys if the concentration of lead, expressed as metal in the brass alloy, does not exceed 0.5% by weight. This is a condition tied to the alloy and the legal text\u2014not a general statement that all brass parts are exempt, nor a substitute for confirming that the supplied material matches the claimed alloy.<\/p>\n<p>The buyer should ask what the supplier means by \u201cbrass alloy,\u201d how the material is identified, and whether the composition evidence applies to the actual component and production lot. A commercial alloy name, a color, or a generic \u201cREACH compliant\u201d statement may not answer those questions. Where the supplier relies on the brass provision, the file should connect the precise component to an alloy designation and credible composition evidence.<\/p>\n<p>The derogation is also not a blanket compliance certificate. It does not establish compliance with other chemical restrictions, drinking-water requirements, product-safety obligations, or customer specifications. Those regimes have separate scopes. The <a href=\"https:\/\/eur-lex.europa.eu\/eli\/reg\/2015\/628\/oj\/eng\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">2015 amendment adding the brass provision<\/a> and the current consolidated REACH text should be read together with the exact product facts. For a binding interpretation, obtain advice from a qualified compliance professional.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large koitor-blog-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/koitorhardware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/k1009-brass-component-evidence.webp\" alt=\"Close-up of a small brass hardware component beside a drawing revision sheet for supplier evidence review\" style=\"width:100%;max-width:960px;height:auto;display:block;margin:0 auto;\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/koitorhardware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/k1009-brass-component-evidence-18x12.webp 18w, https:\/\/koitorhardware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/k1009-brass-component-evidence-150x150.webp 150w, https:\/\/koitorhardware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/k1009-brass-component-evidence-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/koitorhardware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/k1009-brass-component-evidence-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/koitorhardware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/k1009-brass-component-evidence-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/koitorhardware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/k1009-brass-component-evidence.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/figure>\n<h2>What supplier evidence should match the component?<\/h2>\n<p>Ask the supplier for evidence that is traceable to the part under review\u2014not simply a broad declaration. A useful evidence package may include:<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-table koitor-responsive-table\" style=\"max-width:100%;overflow-x:auto;\">\n<table style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;overflow-wrap:anywhere;\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Evidence item<\/th>\n<th>Buyer should confirm<\/th>\n<th>What it does not prove by itself<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Component drawing and revision<\/td>\n<td>The brass part, geometry and assembly location match the purchased SKU<\/td>\n<td>Chemical composition<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Alloy designation and material record<\/td>\n<td>The named grade and supplier lot refer to the component<\/td>\n<td>That a different revision or lot has the same composition<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Composition certificate or supplier record<\/td>\n<td>The issuer, test or data method, sample identity and lot relationship are clear<\/td>\n<td>Full product compliance under every applicable rule<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Test report, if needed<\/td>\n<td>The lab, method, sample preparation, measured substance and result fit the question<\/td>\n<td>That the tested sample represents all future lots without controls<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Traceability and change notice<\/td>\n<td>The supplier can link material to production and notify the buyer of changes<\/td>\n<td>That no change will occur<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Product-scope review<\/td>\n<td>The importer documented the market, intended use, accessible parts and legal pathway<\/td>\n<td>A laboratory result or legal opinion<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p>A total-lead result and a migration or release test answer different questions. The appropriate evidence depends on the actual legal route, product composition, accessibility and use. Do not request an arbitrary test simply because it sounds rigorous, and do not treat a generic REACH declaration as proof of every relevant restriction. Ask a qualified laboratory or compliance adviser to specify the method if testing is needed.<\/p>\n<p>When the evidence comes from an upstream material mill or distributor, preserve the chain between that record and the finished component. Record the material supplier, alloy designation, certificate or lot reference, component drawing revision, purchase order, and the factory\u2019s receiving or production-lot identifier where available. If the brass component is outsourced, ask which legal entity issued the composition evidence and whether the factory can link it to the shipment used for the buyer\u2019s SKU. A document without that connection may still be useful background, but it should not be presented as proof for an unidentified part. Define in advance what happens when the source, alloy, process, coating or supplier changes: pause approval, obtain updated records, and have the responsible compliance owner determine whether reassessment or testing is required.<\/p>\n<p>The buyer should define sample identity, lot, method and acceptance criteria before testing. If a component is plated, coated, polished or assembled with another material, clarify whether the method assesses the correct material and surface. The report should identify what was tested and what conclusion it can support.<\/p>\n<h3>When does further testing or expert review make sense?<\/h3>\n<p>Seek product-specific review when the material designation is uncertain, the part is near the scope boundary, a supplier relies on a brass exception without traceable composition evidence, or different documents refer to different models or revisions. A qualified lab or compliance specialist can help select the relevant method and interpret whether the evidence answers the legal question.<\/p>\n<p>Testing should follow the question. A test on one component may not represent a different alloy, supplier, production lot, coating condition or product revision. Conversely, a lab report may be unnecessary or unsuitable if the relevant evidence path is established through reliable material records and the legal scope is clearly outside the restriction. The importer should document why the selected evidence is adequate for the specific decision.<\/p>\n<p>Do not equate \u201ctested\u201d with \u201ccompliant.\u201d Confirm the test scope, method, sample identity and legal threshold or exception being assessed. If the product is intended for children, has a detachable small part, or is marketed with a specific use claim, obtain an appropriate product-safety review rather than relying on a general-purpose hardware checklist.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large koitor-blog-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/koitorhardware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/k1009-importer-scope-checklist.webp\" alt=\"Importer checks a brass hardware sample against a neutral component list and supplier material records\" style=\"width:100%;max-width:960px;height:auto;display:block;margin:0 auto;\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/koitorhardware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/k1009-importer-scope-checklist-18x10.webp 18w, https:\/\/koitorhardware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/k1009-importer-scope-checklist-150x150.webp 150w, https:\/\/koitorhardware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/k1009-importer-scope-checklist-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/koitorhardware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/k1009-importer-scope-checklist-768x432.webp 768w, https:\/\/koitorhardware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/k1009-importer-scope-checklist-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/koitorhardware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/k1009-importer-scope-checklist.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/figure>\n<h2>How is this different from SVHC, RoHS or plumbing requirements?<\/h2>\n<p>REACH entry 63 lead restrictions, REACH Candidate List SVHC communication, RoHS restrictions, and water-contact or plumbing requirements are not interchangeable labels. They can apply to different product types, substances, thresholds, parties and evidence. A supplier statement addressing one regime does not automatically answer another.<\/p>\n<p>For example, \u201cREACH compliant\u201d without identifying the regulation provision and product scope may be too broad to evaluate. A Candidate List declaration does not necessarily establish the lead concentration in a brass alloy under entry 63. A RoHS report concerns a different regulatory framework and product scope. If the component contacts drinking water, separate market-specific requirements may need review; do not infer them from the fact that the item is a bathroom accessory.<\/p>\n<p>Keep each question separate in the compliance file: which rule is being assessed, which component and revision are covered, who made the assessment, and what evidence supports it. This prevents a useful certificate or report from being stretched beyond what it actually tested.<\/p>\n<h2>What should an importer include in the RFQ and compliance file?<\/h2>\n<p>Before quoting or approving a brass-containing product, provide the supplier with the intended market and product use, component list, drawing revision, requested alloy designation, and any customer or legal evidence requirement already established by the importer\u2019s compliance owner. Ask the supplier to identify which facts it can verify and which require the importer, brand owner, laboratory or adviser.<\/p>\n<p>Keep a product-specific record containing:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>SKU, market, intended use and responsible review owner.<\/li>\n<li>Assembly drawing, revision and identification of each brass component.<\/li>\n<li>Supplier alloy designation, composition evidence and lot linkage.<\/li>\n<li>Scope assessment for the relevant entry 63 conditions and any relied-upon derogation.<\/li>\n<li>Test reports with method, sample, date and scope where testing was selected.<\/li>\n<li>Related material, coating, assembly and supplier-change records.<\/li>\n<li>Open questions, decision owner and review date.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These records make a later material substitution or supplier change visible. If a supplier proposes a different alloy, recycled feedstock, plating, or subcontractor, determine whether the original assessment still applies before approving the change. Do not assume that a similar appearance means the same chemical evidence.<\/p>\n<h2>H\u00e4ufig gestellte Fragen<\/h2>\n<h3>Does every brass bathroom accessory fall under the lead restriction?<\/h3>\n<p>No. Entry 63 has defined conditions, including public supply and the mouthability conditions for the article or accessible part, plus listed derogations. Assess the exact product and current legal text rather than assuming either universal coverage or universal exclusion.<\/p>\n<h3>What does a REACH lead restriction brass review include?<\/h3>\n<p>It records the exact part and use, the applicable entry 63 scope assessment, the claimed alloy, and evidence linked to the supplied component. Get qualified advice where scope or evidence remains uncertain.<\/p>\n<h3>Does the 0.5% brass condition mean every brass alloy is automatically acceptable?<\/h3>\n<p>No. The provision is conditional on the lead concentration in the brass alloy not exceeding 0.5% by weight, and the buyer still needs evidence that the actual component is the alloy and revision being claimed. Other requirements may also apply.<\/p>\n<h3>Is a generic REACH declaration sufficient?<\/h3>\n<p>Not necessarily. It may not identify the exact provision, component, material, lot, method or product scope. Ask the supplier for evidence that is relevant to the decision and seek qualified advice where needed.<\/p>\n<h3>Can Koitor issue a lead-compliance certificate for a brass part?<\/h3>\n<p>The available company facts do not establish that Koitor manufactures brass components or issues chemical test reports or regulatory certificates. Koitor can discuss verified metal-hardware manufacturing information within its scope; a product-specific compliance determination should come from the responsible importer and qualified compliance professionals.<\/p>\n<h2>Arbeiten Sie mit Koitor Hardware zusammen<\/h2>\n<section class=\"koitor-blog-cta\" style=\"margin-top:36px;padding:28px;border:1px solid #D0D5DD;border-radius:16px;background:#F8FAFC;\">\n<h3 style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:12px;font-size:28px;line-height:1.25;color:#101828;\">Discuss a Metal Hardware Material Specification<\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-size:16px;line-height:1.7;margin-bottom:20px;color:#344054;\">Share the product drawing, component list, material designation and target market. Koitor Hardware can discuss manufacturing details within its verified bathroom and home-storage hardware scope; compliance decisions and laboratory conclusions remain with the responsible importer and qualified specialists.<\/p>\n<div style=\"display:flex;gap:12px;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;margin-bottom:24px;\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/koitorhardware.com\/de\/kontakt\/\" style=\"display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;min-height:48px;padding:0 22px;border-radius:8px;background:#FF5A1F;color:#ffffff;font-weight:700;text-decoration:none;line-height:1;\">Discuss Your Specification<\/a><br \/>\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/koitorhardware.com\/de\/hersteller-von-masgefertigten-badbeschlagen\/\" style=\"display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;min-height:48px;padding:0 22px;border-radius:8px;border:1px solid #FF5A1F;color:#FF5A1F;background:#ffffff;font-weight:700;text-decoration:none;line-height:1;\">Explore Custom Hardware<\/a>\n  <\/div>\n<div class=\"koitor-article-tags\" style=\"margin-top:24px;padding-top:18px;border-top:1px solid #E5E7EB;display:flex;align-items:center;gap:8px;flex-wrap:wrap;\">\n    <span style=\"font-size:14px;font-weight:700;color:#344054;margin-right:4px;\">Stichw\u00f6rter:<\/span><br \/>\n    <span style=\"display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;padding:6px 12px;border-radius:999px;background:#FFF3ED;color:#FF5A1F;font-size:13px;font-weight:600;line-height:1.2;\">EU Product Compliance<\/span><br \/>\n    <span style=\"display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;padding:6px 12px;border-radius:999px;background:#FFF3ED;color:#FF5A1F;font-size:13px;font-weight:600;line-height:1.2;\">Material Selection<\/span><br \/>\n    <span style=\"display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;padding:6px 12px;border-radius:999px;background:#FFF3ED;color:#FF5A1F;font-size:13px;font-weight:600;line-height:1.2;\">Lieferantenbewertung<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>REACH lead restriction brass checks start with product scope, accessible parts and alloy evidence. Use this importer checklist before approving a component.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5306,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[230],"tags":[159,232,91,95],"class_list":["post-5309","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-eu-product-compliance-b2b-sourcing","tag-bathroom-hardware","tag-eu-product-compliance","tag-material-selection","tag-supplier-evaluation"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/koitorhardware.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5309","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/koitorhardware.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/koitorhardware.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koitorhardware.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koitorhardware.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5309"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/koitorhardware.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5309\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5310,"href":"https:\/\/koitorhardware.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5309\/revisions\/5310"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koitorhardware.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5306"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/koitorhardware.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5309"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koitorhardware.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5309"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koitorhardware.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5309"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}