{"id":16742,"date":"2026-05-20T15:42:29","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T13:42:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/servireach.com\/blog\/use-descriptors-a-key-tool-in-reach-registration\/"},"modified":"2026-05-20T15:42:34","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T13:42:34","slug":"use-descriptors-a-key-tool-in-reach-registration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/servireach.com\/en\/blog\/use-descriptors-a-key-tool-in-reach-registration\/","title":{"rendered":"Use descriptors: a key tool in REACH registration"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The European Union REACH Regulation establishes the obligation to register chemical substances manufactured or imported into the EU. In this context, it is essential not only to understand the properties of a substance, but also <strong>how it is actually used in practice<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To address this, REACH introduces the so-called <strong>use descriptors<\/strong>, a tool that allows the different applications of a substance to be described clearly and systematically throughout its life cycle.<\/p>\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What are use descriptors?<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Use descriptors are a harmonised coding system designed to standardise the description of substance uses. This system makes it possible to provide technically precise answers to key questions such as: <\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"line-height:1.6\">In which sector is the substance used?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"line-height:1.6\">In what type of product or process is it present?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"line-height:1.6\">How and where is it used (industrial, professional or consumer use)?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"line-height:1.6\">At which stage of the life cycle does the use occur?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This information enables a more accurate assessment of exposure and the risks associated with each use.<\/p>\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Main elements of the system<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The<strong> use descriptor system is based on different categories<\/strong>, including:<\/p>\n\n<div style=\"height:23px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-regular\"><table class=\"has-background has-border-color has-fixed-layout\" style=\"background-color:#c6edf7;border-color:#8a8a8a;border-style:solid;border-width:1px\"><thead><tr><th>Category<\/th><th>What does it indicate?<\/th><th>Examples<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Sector of Use (SU)<\/strong><\/td><td>Indicates the industry in which the substance is used<\/td><td>Manufacture of fine chemicals<br\/>Agriculture, forestry and fishing<br\/>Furniture manufacturing<br\/>Textile, leather and fur industries, \u2026<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Product Category (PC)<\/strong><\/td><td>Defines the type of product in which the substance is present<\/td><td>Adhesives and sealants<br\/>Paints and coatings<br\/>fertilizers, &#8230;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Process Category (PROC)<\/strong><\/td><td>Describes how the substance is used<\/td><td>Use in closed processes<br\/>Industrial spray application<br\/>Mixing in batch processes, \u2026<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Article Category (AC)<\/strong><\/td><td>Applies when the substance is present in articles<\/td><td>Machinery and tools<br\/>Vehicles<br\/>Textile products, \u2026<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Environmental Release Categories (ERC)<\/strong><\/td><td>Estimate how the substance may be released into the environment <\/td><td>Manufacture of substances<br\/>Formulation of mixtures, \u2026<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n<div style=\"height:18px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How are they used by companies?<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Use descriptors are an essential tool within <a href=\"https:\/\/servireach.com\/en\/consultancy\/reach\/#registroreach\">REACH registration<\/a> because they allow companies to:<\/p>\n\n<ul style=\"line-height:1.6\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Standardise the description of uses in registration dossiers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Optimise the <a href=\"https:\/\/servireach.com\/en\/blog\/chemical-risk-assessment-what-it-is-and-why-it-matters\/\">Chemical Safety Report<\/a> (CSR) by facilitating accurate exposure scenario calculations<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Improve <strong>communication<\/strong> throughout the supply chain between manufacturers, importers and downstream users<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ensure safe use<\/strong> by helping define the operational conditions and risk management measures required for each use<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Correct assignment of use descriptors is not only a regulatory requirement; it is also key to ensuring that a substance can be safely marketed and used within the European market.<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The European Union REACH Regulation establishes the obligation to register chemical substances manufactured or imported into the EU. In this context, it is essential not only to understand the properties of a substance, but also how it is actually used in practice. To address this, REACH introduces the so-called use descriptors, a tool that allows [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":16732,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[763],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16742","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general-en"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Use descriptors: a key tool in REACH registration - Servireach<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Use descriptors: a key tool in the REACH registration, which allows the description of the applications of a substance throughout its life cycle.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/servireach.com\/en\/blog\/use-descriptors-a-key-tool-in-reach-registration\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Use descriptors: a key tool in REACH registration - 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