Glossary / Regulations
Substance of Very High Concern (SVHC)
A Substance of Very High Concern (SVHC) is a chemical that the European Union has identified under REACH as having properties of serious concern, such as being carcinogenic, toxic to reproduction, or persistent and bioaccumulative. SVHCs may be placed on a Candidate List and eventually require authorisation.
Explanation
The SVHC concept comes from Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH). A substance can qualify if it is a Carcinogen, a Mutagen, or a Reproductive toxicant, if it is persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic, or if there is scientific evidence of an equivalent level of concern, for instance hormone-disrupting effects.
Substances are identified by a process run by the European Chemicals Agency and the member states. Once identified, they are added to the Candidate List. The list is updated regularly, so a substance that was not on it last year may be on it now.
Being on the Candidate List triggers duties straight away. Suppliers of a substance, a mixture containing it, or an article containing it above a set concentration must pass information down the supply chain, and consumers can ask retailers about articles. Some SVHCs are later moved to an authorisation list, meaning use is banned after a date unless an authorisation is granted for that use.
The listing is not itself a ban, and it does not mean a product is unsafe to use in a controlled setting. It signals that the substance is being steered toward substitution. Companies often use the list as a procurement screen and look for alternatives early.
Workers will meet the concept mostly through supplier statements and the SDS. Check the product against the current list rather than a printed copy.
What to do and watch for
- Screen new products against the current Candidate List before purchase.
- Ask suppliers for SVHC statements if you sell articles in the EU.
- Look for substitutes for substances heading toward authorisation.
Where it appears on an SDS
- Section 15: Regulatory information. Where relevant, indicates whether a component is on the REACH Candidate List or subject to authorisation or restriction.
- Section 3: Composition / information on ingredients. Identifies the components and their concentration ranges so that SVHC content can be assessed.
SDS content and wording vary by supplier. This page is general reference and does not replace the current SDS for your product.