ECHA adds two new substances to the list of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC)

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has added two new substances to the SVHC Candidate List, which now includes 253 entries. The new additions are n hexane and 4,4' [2,2,2 trifluoro 1 (trifluoromethyl)ethylidene]diphenol (BPAF) and its salts, included due to their risks to human health.

On 4 February 2026, ECHA confirmed the inclusion of two SVHCs under the REACH Regulation.

The update includes the following additions:

• n-hexane
• Reason for inclusion: specific target organ toxicity after repeated exposure (Art. 57(f)).
• Common uses: formulation, polymer processing, coatings and cleaning agents.
• 4,4' [2,2,2 trifluoro 1 (trifluoromethyl)ethylidene]diphenol (BPAF) and its salts
• Reason for inclusion: reproductive toxicity (Art. 57(c)).
• Common uses: process regulator and crosslinking agent.

The presence of a substance on the SVHC Candidate List triggers immediate obligations for manufacturers, importers and suppliers. These include:

• Providing safety use information to the supply chain when the concentration exceeds 0.1% w/w.
• Providing information to consumers upon request.
• Declaring in the SCIP database any articles containing SVHCs above 0.1% w/w in accordance with the Waste Framework Directive.
• Updating the safety data sheets (SDS) of products containing a substance included in the SVHC Candidate List.
• Notifying ECHAwhen articles contain an SVHC above 0.1% w/w (deadline: 4 August 2026).

For more information on the obligations associated with having these substances in articles, you can consult our link What is an SVHC?

At Siam we work to ensure that companies stay up to date with regulatory changes affecting chemical management in Europe, helping them understand their impact and manage their obligations under the REACH Regulation. We also integrate these updates into Chemeter, ensuring that the SDS generated with our software reflect the latest information and fully comply with current REACH requirements.