6 new substances added to the Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs)

6 new substances added to the Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs)

The Candidate List of substances of very high concern (SVHCs) has been upgraded to 197 substances. The ECHA (European Chemical Agency) included last 15th January 6 new substances; 5 of them due to the carcinogenic, toxic to reproduction, persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) and very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB) properties of the substances. The sixth substance has been identified as an endocrine-disrupting by the European Commission and consequently added to the list.

The 6 substances are the following:

  • - 2,2-bis(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-4-methylpentane (CAS 6807-17-6)
  • - Benzo[k]fluoranthene (CAS 207-08-9)
  • - Fluoranthene (CAS 206-44-0)
  • - Phenanthrene (CAS 85-01-8)
  • - Pyrene (CAS 129-00-0)
  • - 1,7,7-trimethyl-3-(phenylmethylene)bicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one (CAS 15087-24-8)


What is a SVCH?

Substances that meet one or more criteria defined in Article 57 of the Regulation REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals) of the European Union (EU) can be identified as “Substances of Very High Concern” and included in the candidates list, also known as REACH SVHC List.

If a substance is added to the SVHC list does not mean it is prohibited but its use brings some obligations towards the ECHA and consumers:

  • - Generation of a safety data sheet (SDS).
  • - Communication along the supply chain.
  • - Providing with an answer to consumers’ requests within 45 days.
  • - Notification to the ECHA if the final article produced contains a SVHC substance above one tonne per year and it is present at 0.1% (w/w) or higher concentration in the article.

However, if the substance is added to the authorisation REACH list (Annex XIV of the REACH Regulation), it cannot be marketed in the EU nor used after a fixed date, unless it is authorised for a specific use or the specific use is authorisation exempted.

The official ECHA webpage allows to check the substances included in SVHC list and also the ones which have been authorised together with the cut-off date. It is important to regularly check SVHC list, companies may have immediate legal obligations after the substance addition into REACH SVHC list.

Source: ECHA