REACH SVHC COMPLIANCE
REACH SVHC and Annex XVII Current Lists
The current EU REACH SVHC list in PDF and Excel formats:
The current EU REACH Annex XVII list in PDF and Excel formats:
REACH Testing - The Enviropass Approach
Just like Europe RoHS, REACH SVHC testing can be performed using documentation provided by your suppliers and subcontractors. Get a free demo from Enviropass!
This method offers the best value for your SVHC declaration and certificate of compliance under the REACH SVHC law and the REACH Annex XVII, avoiding dozens of expensive analyses for potentially dangerous substances present in a tested product.
The documentary approach also allows easy monitoring of product compliance throughout the growing Candidate list.
CLASSIC REACH
By using Classic REACH, you allow Enviropass to undertake the documentary assessment of your products, including:
- Up-to-date data collection with your suppliers/subcontractors;
- Quality validation of documents and risk analysis;
- Preparation of analysis results and certificates of compliance.
Note that you can apply for both REACH and RoHS testing services at a lower cost.
DELUXE REACH
In addition to the Classic REACH service, Deluxe REACH gives you the tools to take control of REACH compliance. Deluxe REACH includes:
- Customized training on products auditing, allowing you to conduct the analyses and to update yourself the declarations of conformity (DoC);
- Auditing your REACH risks assessments.
Online REACH Training
A unique online training on EU REACH, SVHC, and SCIP compliance is now available!
What is the REACH Regulation?
REACH is an acronym for ‘Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and restriction of Chemicals‘.
This is also the title of the European regulation No 1907/2006 of 18 December 2006 (EC).
Article 1.1 of the REACH regulation defines the purpose of REACH as ensuring a high level of protection of the environmental and human health in the European Union.
Does REACH Apply to Any Product?
Almost! Substances in pure form, preparations & mixtures, as well as products (so-called articles in the regulation) are in the REACH scope.
As a result, most manufactured goods must be REACH compliant, such as electronic devices, medical equipment, furniture, batteries, instruments, hardware, solder, adhesives, ink cartridges, etc. Contrary to RoHS Europe, the packaging is also regulated under REACH.
However, some exclusions apply, such as the drugs, food, petroleum, and nuclear industries.
What are the REACH SVHCs?
SVHC stands for Substances of Very High Concern. Every six months, SVHCs are added to a so-called Candidate list. Several SVHCs are commonly used in the products we buy, such as electronics. There are, for example:
- Lead
- 1,2-dimethoxyethane; ethylene glycol dimethyl ether (EGDME) (CAS No. 110-71-4)
- Alkanes, C10-13, chloro (Short Chain Chlorinated Paraffins, SCCPs) (CAS No. 85535-84-8)
- Diarsenic trioxide (CAS No. 1327-53-3)
- 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, di-C6-8-branched alkyl esters, C7-rich (DIHP) (CAS No. 71888-89-6)
- Perfluorohexane-1-sulfonic acid and its salts (PFHxS) (CAS No. 355-46-4)
- And dozens of other substances…
Why Regulating Substances of Very High Concern?
Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, and about 1 in 6 deaths is due to cancer, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Scientists have identified 3 external causes:
- physical carcinogens, such as ultraviolet and ionizing radiation
- biological carcinogens, such as infections from certain viruses, bacteria, or parasites; and
- chemical carcinogens, such as asbestos, components of tobacco smoke, aflatoxin (a food contaminant), and arsenic (a drinking water contaminant).
We find SVHCs in this last category of chemical carcinogens. Other SVHCs are mutagen, reproductive toxicant, (very) persistent, (very) bioaccumulative (vPvB), toxic (PBT – some are also regulated in the USA under TSCA PBT), and/or endocrine disruptors.
The following additional criteria of new SVHCs are being considered:
- Persistent, mobile and toxic substances (PMTs), and
- Very persistent, very mobile substances (vPvMs).
Certain SVHCs only have probable effects on human health and the environment, but the precautionary principle applies.
The SVHC Obligations
| Obligation | Communication of information on substances in articles (REACH chapter 3) |
| Legal basis in REACH Regulation | REACH, article 33 |
| Actors concerned | Article suppliers |
| Substances concerned | Substances included in the Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern for authorization |
| Tonnage threshold | – |
| Concentration in article threshold | 0.1% (w/w) |
When an SVHC is present in 0.1% by weight equal to or greater than 0.1% of a given article that constitutes a more complex article, it is mandatory to inform the consumer and, subject to certain conditions, to notify the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).
Sufficient information on any SVHC present in your products, at the article level, above the 0.1% threshold, must be made available to the consumer, or the professional customer. Additionally, if any SVHC present in your products exceeds a total of one ton per producer/importer and per year, then ECHA must be notified.
As a result, if you don’t disclose any SVHC, you are stating that none of them are contained in the product you introduced into the EU market. Since the SVHC list is updated every 6 months, it is critical to maintaining your technical file up-to-date.
The SCIP Notification of SVHC
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has been developing the SCIP database for great transparency, and to enhance data sharing.
SCIP stands for Substances of Concern In articles, as such, or in complex objects (Products).
As of January 5th, 2021, any newly sold product that contains at least one SVHC above the declaration threshold will have to figure on the SCIP web-based database.
Here is a tutorial and tips on SCIP notifications.
What is Considered as an Article under REACH?
This is a key definition when it comes to declaring SVHCs. An article is defined as:
”an object which during production is given a special shape, surface or design which determines its function to a greater degree than does its chemical composition” article 3(3)
Since September 10th, 2015, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has decided that producers must disclose any SVHC that is above 0.1 % weight by weight in every article that constitutes a product.
This is the Once an article, always an article rule.
The REACH Annex XVII
Another list, different from the SVHC list, restricts the use of certain hazardous chemicals, in certain applications, substances, mixtures, and articles. This is annex XVII.
For example, according to annex XVII, nickel and nickel compounds, can not be present in parts that can come into direct and prolonged contact with a user’s skin, such as buttons, casing, or viewfinders, with a nickel finish.
REACH Record Keeping
Per article 36 of the REACH regulation, it is mandatory to keep the REACH information, like the reported SVHCs for at least ten years after the last article with placed into the EU market.
What if I don't Comply with REACH?
The European Commission publishes non-compliant articles on the RAPEX (Rapid Alert System for Non-Food Products) website.
Products that don’t have proper SVHC declarations or don’t comply with the REACH Annex XVII can be withdrawn from the whole European Union market.
Surveillance authorities may also order product recalls.
Other obligations, like RoHS, POP halogen-free, BPR if biocides are used and Safety Data Sheets (SDS) may apply to your product as well.
The History of REACH
In 2001, the European Commission agreed on a Strategy for a future Community Policy for Chemicals.
On December 30th, 2006 the completed text of the REACH law was published.
The REACH chemical regulation came into effect on June 1st, 2007. Since then, it has gradually entered into force. Article 33 on SVHC has also been deploying itself over the years.
REACH-like Regulations Worldwide
Other countries the the European Union have developed Europe REACH like regulations, such as Korea (K-REACH), and Turkey. In the USA and Canada, toxic substances are also regulated in specific acts.
The US TSCA
This US federal Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) was enacted in 1976 to manage hazardous chemicals in commerce. The TSCA is currently being modernized to strengthen the role of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in evaluating and regulating hazardous chemicals like persistent, bio-accumulative and toxic (PBT) ones.
The Canadian CMP
Like the US TSCA, the Canadian Chemicals Management Plan (CMP) is managed at the federal level, by both the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and the Minister of Health Canada. Candidate substances are assessed through a Priority Substances List (PSL). Then, depending on the outcome of the assessment, they are recommended for addition to the List of Toxic Substances. When a substance is on the toxic substances list, then a preventive and control actions are implemented.
Contact Enviropass to assess the REACH compliance of your products.