SVHC

Full Name and Expansion of the Acronym SVHC

SVHC stands for the English term Substances of Very High Concern, which means Substances of Very High Concern. These are chemical substances that, due to their properties, may have a serious and often irreversible impact on human health and the natural environment. The identification and control of SVHC is one of the key elements of the European REACH regulation.

Definition and Classification Criteria of SVHC

Substances can be identified as SVHC if they meet at least one of the following criteria:

• CMR: They are classified as carcinogenic (C), mutagenic (M) or toxic for reproduction (R) in category 1A or 1B, according to the CLP regulation.
• PBT: They are Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic.
• vPvB: They are very Persistent and very Bioaccumulative.
• Other serious concerns: They exhibit other properties that raise the same level of concern as CMR, PBT, or vPvB substances. Examples include substances that disrupt the endocrine system (so-called endocrine disruptors) or substances that are respiratory sensitizers, which have serious and irreversible effects on human health or the environment, assessed individually for each case.

Role of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and the “Candidate List”

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) plays a central role in the SVHC identification process. EU member states or the ECHA (at the request of the European Commission) can propose a substance to be identified as an SVHC. After conducting appropriate consultations, substances that meet the criteria are placed on the so-called SVHC Candidate List. This list is regularly updated, usually twice a year.

Placing a substance on the Candidate List is the first step towards potentially including it in Annex XIV of the REACH regulation (the so-called “list of substances subject to authorization”). Substances from Annex XIV cannot be placed on the market or used after a specified date (“sunset date”) unless a specific authorization has been obtained or its use is exempt from this obligation.

Information Obligations Related to SVHC

The inclusion of a substance on the SVHC Candidate List creates immediate obligations for companies, especially concerning articles:

• Suppliers of articles: If an article contains a substance from the Candidate List in a concentration above 0.1% weight by weight (w/w), the supplier must provide the recipient of the article (if it is a professional user) with sufficient information allowing the safe use of the article, including at least the name of the substance.
• Information for consumers: Upon the consumer’s request, the supplier of an article containing SVHC in a concentration above 0.1% w/w must provide the same information free of charge, within 45 days of the request.
• Notification to ECHA (SCIP Database): From January 5, 2021, companies supplying articles containing substances from the Candidate List in a concentration above 0.1% w/w to the EU market must report information on these articles to the SCIP database maintained by ECHA.

Suppliers of substances placed on the Candidate List (as such or in mixtures) must provide their customers with a Safety Data Sheet (SDS).

Importance of SVHC in Lubricants for the User

The presence of SVHC in lubricants or operating fluids may imply the need to take additional precautions during their use, storage, or disposal. Information on this should be included in the Product Safety Data Sheet. Awareness of the presence of SVHC allows users to more responsibly manage chemical risk.

Where to Look for Information about SVHC in Products?

• Product Safety Data Sheet (SDS): Section 3 (Composition/information on ingredients) and Section 15 (Regulatory information) may contain information on SVHC.
• Product label: Although not always, relevant information may sometimes appear there.
• Directly from the supplier/manufacturer: They are obliged to provide information.
• SVHC Candidate List on the ECHA website: It is possible to check there which substances are currently on the list.