ECHA Adds 5 SVHC Substances to the Candidate List

2025-02-25

REACH

What is the SVHC List?
Implications and Limitations of the SVHC List
New Substances Added to the SVHC List
Substance Identification and Management

ECHA has expanded the list of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC), bringing the total to 247 chemicals. This update has direct implications for companies in the sector, as these substances may pose risks to health and the environment. Discover which substances have been added and how they could impact your products.

What is the SVHC List?

The SVHC (Substances of Very High Concern) list of authorized substances includes those from the Candidate List that have been approved only for specific uses.

This means that companies marketing products containing these substances must obtain special authorization. Their regulation is covered under Annex XIV of REACH, and the unauthorized use of these substances is strictly prohibited and penalized.

ECHA periodically evaluates substances in the Candidate List to determine which should be prioritized for inclusion in the Authorization List. As part of this process, a three-month public consultation is conducted, allowing stakeholders to submit comments.

Subsequently, the Member State Committee reviews the comments and provides its opinion on the recommendation. Finally, the European Commission decides which substances should be incorporated into the Authorization List, ensuring stricter control over their use.

Substance Classification

These substances can be classified as:

Carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic for reproduction (CMR).
Persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) or very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB).
Endocrine disruptors, negatively affecting the hormonal system of living organisms.

Companies that manufacture, import, or use these substances are responsible for managing associated risks and providing clear information to customers and consumers regarding their safe use.

Implications and Limitations of the SVHC List

The inclusion of a substance in the SVHC list carries several implications:

Reporting obligations: According to Article 58 of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH), companies are obliged to report the presence of an SVHC substance to ECHA, when the substance is present in a concentration above 0.1%.
Substitution and phase-out: Substances can be subsequently included in the authorisation list, which means that their use will be restricted and can only continue under specific permissions.
Impact on the supply chain: Manufacturers must inform customers about the presence of these substances, which may influence the choice of suppliers and materials.
Incentive for innovation: Industry is driven to develop safer and more sustainable alternatives.

New Substances Added to the SVHC List

On January 21, 2025, ECHA added five new substances to the SVHC list and updated a previous entry:

Octamethyltrisiloxane (CAS 107-51-7) and perfluoramine (CAS 338-83-0): Highly persistent and bioaccumulative, used in the manufacture of cleaning products, electrical, electronic, and optical equipment.
O,O,O-triphenyl phosphorothioate (CAS 597-82-0): A PBT substance used in lubricants and greases.
Reaction mass of triphenyl thiophosphate and tertiary butylated phenyl derivatives (CAS 192268-65-8): Identified as an SVHC to prevent undesirable substitution, although not registered under REACH.
6-[(C10-C13)-alkyl-(branched, unsaturated)-2,5-dioxopyrrolidin-1-yl]hexanoic acid (CAS 2156592-54-8): Classified as toxic for reproduction, used in lubricants, greases, and metalworking fluids.
Tris(4-nonylphenyl, branched and linear) phosphite: An environmental endocrine disruptor, used in adhesives, sealants, coatings, and polymers. Its entry has been updated to reflect its intrinsic toxicity when containing ≥ 0.1% of 4-nonylphenol.

Substance Identification and Management

At eQgest, we understand the importance of properly identifying and managing SVHC substances. For this reason, these updates will be included in our next revision, ensuring that our clients can comply with regulations efficiently.

We hope this article has been helpful. On our blog, you will always stay up to date with the latest developments in the chemical sector. For more information on the inclusion of substances in the Candidate List, you can consult the following ECHA link.

If you want to learn more about the versatility of the eQgest solution and how it can assist you in your daily operations, do not hesitate to contact us.