This section is the most frequently used function of the compliance system. The question is simple: does my product contain a restricted substance, and if so, does it exceed the threshold? Generating the answer, however, becomes an increasingly difficult task as the portfolio grows.
Scope
Rule list management: Maintaining lists of prohibited and restricted substances from different regulations in the system, along with their release and validity dates.
Internal company lists: Corporate restrictions that are stricter than legislation, and customer-specific prohibited substance lists. Large buyers often go beyond legislation.
Threshold level definition: The application of the threshold at the product, component, packaging, or homogeneous material level. The same percentage value yields different results at different levels.
Automated scanning: The entire portfolio is scanned at regular intervals against all listings, and any overruns are reported.
Exemption management: Monitoring exemptions granted for specific uses, along with their duration and scope. An expired exemption means the product is non-compliant.
Below-threshold but notifiable situations: Separate monitoring of situations that, while below the restriction threshold, give rise to a notification or information obligation.
Substitution recommendation: When a restricted substance is identified, suggesting alternatives that perform the same function.
Retrospective search: When an item is restricted, it allows us to list the products containing that item and the customers who purchased those products.
In the real business world
The restricted ingredient lists expand regularly. Each addition to the candidate list requires a re-screening of the portfolio. In a manually managed structure, this screening involves opening product trees, emailing suppliers, and compiling the responses in a table. For a medium-sized manufacturer, this work takes weeks and is repeated from scratch with the next update.
In a business that has complete material declaration data, the same scan is a query . When a new item is added to the list, the affected products are listed immediately; the supplier is only contacted for data that is truly missing.
Benefit to the customer
Legislative updates are reviewed within hours.
Customer inquiries about product details are answered the same day.
Reformulation can be planned before the restrictions come into effect.
The number of supplier inquiries decreases; only actual gaps are inquired about.