This database contains 34 lists of substances that are legally or voluntarily restricted or are recommended for restriction due to their hazards. Lists are grouped in five categories: international agreements, EU regulatory lists, governmental lists, NGO and trade union lists as well as company lists. The Restricted and Priority Substances Database is a tool to check whether a substance is listed and therefore you would need to substitute it or not to accept it as alternative, since it is considered of concern by a certain organization. Descriptions of the lists and links to the original sources can be found in the database.

In some lists substances were grouped by the list providers. To enhance user-friendliness prominent substances that are generally part of such groups are listed as single substances in the database although not explicitly mentioned in the original lists.