The California Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Proposition 65) requires companies operating in or selling into California to warn consumers about the presence of chemicals listed by the state. The list is updated frequently, with the largest updates typically occurring in spring and fall. Assent automatically updates its solution to align with current declarable substance lists — including the Proposition 65 list — and takes immediate action to ensure its clients have up-to-date compliance information.

The Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive prohibits the use of 10 substances in the manufacturing and sale of electrical and electronic equipment in the EU. Companies without a viable alternative to these substances must apply for an authorized temporary exemption. While the duration of exemptions vary based on use case, they typically expire in late July. Assent enables companies to address impending exemption deadlines ahead of time in order to maintain operational continuity, and avoid costly supply interruptions and product recalls.

The Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulation’s Candidate List of substances of very high concern (SVHCs) is updated twice a year, typically in the summer and winter. When new SVHCs are added, companies must scope their supply chains for the presence of these substances, and satisfy the requirements of the REACH Regulation and reporting obligations for the Substances of Concern in articles, as such or in complex objects (Products) (SCIP) database. Assent automatically updates its declarable substance list when new SVHCs are added and engages suppliers to ensure compliance.

Section 1502 of the U.S. Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act establishes due diligence activities for publicly traded companies with regard to conflict minerals in their supply chains. These companies must file an annual report of these activities no later than May 31. Extensive communication throughout the supply chain is necessary for both due diligence and reporting requirements. To facilitate this, Assent engages suppliers months before the deadline using industry best practices and tools, such as the Conflict Minerals Reporting Template (CMRT).

This results in higher supplier response rates and cleaner data submissions — a crucial element of detecting and mitigating labor violations that can cause lasting harm to your company’s brand.

Free trade agreements, notably the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), require companies to file certificates of origin on products they move across borders. This involves acquiring data and attestation from the supply chain. Assent ensures valid trade statuses by addressing these requirements before certificates are due. For example, to secure valid trade status beginning on January 1, Assent begins working with clients to gather the necessary information in November so they can avoid unnecessary tariffs and produce substantial cost savings.

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues are becoming increasingly important to consumers and investors, and companies need sustained supply chain transparency to address them. Assent works with clients to establish schedules and timelines that align with diverse ESG goals. We create clearly communicated processes for suppliers that encourage the responsiveness and transparency needed for robust protection from reputational damage and possible enforcement action.