SVHC REACH List: New substances added by ECHA

1. What is the SVHC List?

2. Classification of substances

3. Impact of being included in the SVHC list

4. What must companies do after a substance is added to the SVHC list?

5. New substances added to the SVHC list

6. Ongoing public consultation: potential new SVHC

7. Want to stay up to date with REACH and the SVHC List?

8. Frequently asked questions about the SVHC List and REACH

ECHA has expanded the List of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC), which now includes a total of 250 chemical substances. This update impacts all companies that manufacture, import or place on the market products containing them. Find out which substances have been added and what regulatory implications their inclusion brings.

What is the SVHC List?

The SVHC list (Substances of Very High Concern) includes substances authorised only for specific uses, as per Annex XIV of the REACH Regulation.
Companies must request special authorisation to use them; unauthorised use is prohibited and subject to penalties. ECHA reviews the list regularly and, following a three-month public consultation, the Member State Committee issues an opinion. The European Commission then decides which substances are added, reinforcing regulatory control.

Classification of substances

These substances of very high concern can be classified as:

• CMR: Carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction (Article 57c of REACH).

• PBT/vPvB: Persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic or very persistent and very bioaccumulative (Articles 57d and 57e of REACH).

• Endocrine disruptors: Affect the hormonal system (Article 57f of REACH).
  

Companies that manufacture, import or use these substances must manage the risks and communicate safe usage.

Impact of being included in the SVHC list

Inclusion of a substance in the SVHC List implies:

• Information obligations: Its presence must be reported if it exceeds 0.1% by weight per article

• Future restrictions: Authorisation may be required for continued use

• Supply chain transparency: Affects purchasing and production decisions

• Innovation incentive: Encourages the development of safer alternatives
  

What must companies do after a substance is added to the SVHC list?

From 25 June 2025, any company manufacturing, importing or marketing articles containing any of the newly added substances must:

• Notify ECHA in accordance with Article 7.2 of REACH

• Update Safety Data Sheets (SDS)

• Register information in ECHA's SCIP database, if applicable

• Inform consumers upon request within 45 days
  

The deadline to comply with these obligations is 25 December 2025.

New substances added to the SVHC list

On 25 June 2025, ECHA added three new substances to the SVHC List:

• 1,1,1,3,5,5,5-heptamethyl-3-[(trimethylsilyl)oxy]trisiloxane
  CAS No.: 17928-28-8
  EC No.: 241-867-7
  Classification: Very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB, Article 57e of REACH)
  Uses: Used as a laboratory reagent, in cosmetics, personal care products, perfumes, as well as in adhesives, coatings and cleaning products.

• Decamethyltetrasiloxane
  CAS No.: 141-62-8
  EC No.: 205-491-7
  Classification: vPvB (Article 57e of REACH)
  Uses: Commonly found in cosmetics and personal care products. Also present in lubricants, greases, polishes, waxes and automotive care products.

• Reactive Brown 51
  IUPAC Name: Tetra(sodium/potassium) 7-[(E)-{2-acetamido-4-[(E)-(4-{[4-chloro-6-({2-[(4-fluoro-6-{[4-(vinylsulfonyl)phenyl]amino}-1,3,5-triazine-2-yl)amino]propyl}amino)-1,3,5-triazine-2-yl]amino}-5-sulfonato-1-naphthyl)diazenyl]-5-methoxyphenyl}diazenyl]-1,3,6-naphthalene trisulfonate
  EC No.: 466-490-7
  Classification: Toxic to reproduction (Article 57c of REACH)
  Uses: Used as a textile dye, common in industrial dyeing processes.
  

Ongoing public consultation: potential new SVHC

ECHA has launched a public consultation on a fourth candidate substance:
1,1′-(ethane-1,2-diyl)bis[pentabromobenzene] (DBDPE), a widely used brominated flame retardant.
The public consultation period runs from 27 June to 11 August 2025.

Want to stay up to date with REACH and the SVHC List?

At eQgest, we continuously update our regulatory database to reflect any changes to the SVHC List as soon as they are officially published by ECHA.

Our software enables proactive compliance management, tailored to your sector and operational needs.
Contact us here to find out how eQgest can help your company comply with REACH and optimise chemical substance management.

Frequently asked questions about the SVHC List and REACH

1. What is an SVHC under REACH?
   An SVHC (Substance of Very High Concern) is a chemical identified as potentially hazardous to human health or the environment. These substances are regulated under REACH and require special authorisation for use.

2. What does it mean if a substance is on the SVHC list?
   It means companies must fulfil specific obligations such as reporting its presence, updating safety data sheets, and ensuring supply chain transparency.

3. How can I know if a product contains an SVHC?
   You can verify this by reviewing the product's Safety Data Sheet (SDS), conducting chemical analysis or directly consulting the supplier.

4. What is the deadline for notifying a new SVHC to ECHA?
   The deadline is 6 months from the official inclusion date. For substances added on 25 June 2025, the deadline is 25 December 2025.

5. What should my company do if we use a newly added SVHC?
   You must:

   • Notify ECHA in accordance with Article 7.2 of REACH

   • Update the SDS

   • Register information in the SCIP database (if applicable)

   • Inform consumers within 45 days upon request

6. Where can I check the full list of SVHCs?
   You can find it on ECHA’s official website: Updated Candidate List of SVHCs.

7. What is the SCIP database?
   It is ECHA’s database for information on substances of concern in articles. It promotes transparency throughout the product life cycle and supports the circular economy.