REACH SVHC List 2015

Substances fulfilling one or more of the criteria defined in Article 57 of the REACH Regulation can be identified as "substances of very high concern" (SVHC) and put on the "candidate List for authorization" which is also called "REACH SVHC list". These SVHC can be:

• substances meeting the criteria for classification as carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic (CMR) category 1 or 2;
• persistent, bio-accumulative and toxic (PBT) substances; or
• very persistent and very bio-accumulative (vPvB) substances;
• substances for which there is evidence for similar concern, such as endocrine disruptors.

SVHCs may be further included in the Authorization List (REACH Annex XVII) and become subject to authorization. These substances cannot be placed on the market or used after a given date, unless an authorization is granted for their specific use, or the use is exempted from authorisation.

Reminder: There are 3 important regulatory lists under REACH: REACH SVHC List, REACH Authorization List and REACH Restricted Substance List. Have you read about the other two lists?

Current State of REACH SVHC List

The candidate list for authorization or SVHC list is updated frequently. There are 161 substances on the candidate list(last updated: 17 December 2014). Please click the picture below to download the latest REACH SVHC list. It also shows how to find out the date of inclusion for a substance on the list.

What does REACH SVHC list mean to you?

You shall closely monitor the update of SVHC list. You may have immediate legal obligations following inclusion of the substance on the REACH SVHC list.

If your article contains substance(s) included in the SVHC list in concentration above 0.1% (w/w), you need to fulfill the following obligations:

• Duty to communication information on SVHCs - REACH article 33;
• Notification of SVHC in articles to ECHA- REACH article 7(2);

It shall be noted that you also need to check if your products contain any substances on REACH restricted substance list..

Read more about REACH SVHC list.

Related Substance Restrictions

REACH Substance of Very High Concern (SVHC)

REACH Restricted Substances

EU RoHS/RoHS 2

China RoHS 2

Norway PoHS

Swiss Chemical Risk Reduction Ordinance

California Proposition 65

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

Ozone-depleting Substances

Mercury and Its Compounds

11% of tyres imported into EU are found to be non-compliant with PAHs requirements

The UK Environment Agency published a briefing letter based on a press release by ETRMA, the European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers Agency on March 1st 2011. ETRMA have informed the UK agency that there have been possible breaches of the REACH restriction 50 concerning the levels of PAHs in extender oils and tyres.


On 1st January 2010, the restriction on PAHs came into force. According to this restriction, tyres, and treads for retreading, manufactured after the 1st January 2010 are banned from being placed on the market if they contain extender oils exceeding the following limits:

- More than 1 mg/kg (0.0001% by weight) Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), or

- More than 10 mg/kg (0.001% by weight) of the sum of all PAHs listed in the restriction.


The information in the document ETRMA released is based on the first phase of its tyre testing program which was carried out over several months up to February 18th, 2011. They tested a comprehensive sample of all the tyres that are sold in the European Union for the presence of or high levels of PAHs oils.


While the tyres produced within the EU were found to be REACH Compliant, the main findings of the report reveal that, 11% of all those tested were non compliant. Furthermore, the report details that ETRMA completed its testing on a sample of 110 tyres produced under 45 brand names for sale in several of the largest tyre markets in the EU. Of the 45 brands surveyed, 12 tyres produced under 9 different brand names were found to be noncompliant, i.e. they were found to be containing PAH levels prohibited by REACH, and therefore are being sold illegally on the EU market.
Markings on the tyres indicated that they were produced in 16 countries, including 9 EU countries and 7 non-EU countries and from a total of 92 different production plants in these countries. The 12 non-compliant tyres were all imported.



“While eleven percent is a cause for concern, it does take on staggering dimensions when one considers the fact that some 100 million tyres are imported into the EU and placed on the market each year,” states Dr Francesco Gori President of ETRMA. “This may very well just be the tip of the iceberg.”


ETRMA now calls on the EU and National Authorities to intensify and broaden their own testing and enforcement activities.
Follow this link to read the full press release.
http://www.etrma.org/pdf/20110301%20-%20EN%20_ETRMA_Press%20release.pdf

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
PAHs are a group of over 100 different chemicals that are formed during the incomplete burning of coal, oil and gas, garbage, or other organic compounds. They are known for their carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic properties and thus a restriction on some substances in this category has been imposed by various regulatory authorities.


So far, the EU has restricted 8 PAHs in tyres and extender oils, Germany has introduced mandatory PAHs testing for the GS certification process and the US EPA has restricted 18 PAHs in consumer goods. Thus, it is vital that industry is aware of the risks of their products containing PAHs and is knowledgeable on the required tests to ensure PAHs are not present in their products.


PAHs can be found in petrochemicals, rubber, plastics, lubricants, antirust oil, paints, leather and other products. Rubber and plastics are materials that have a high risk of containing PAHs, while tyres, electronics and toys are some of the consumer products most affected by the restriction of PAHs in the EU, Germany and the US.


ETRMA’s findings have serious implications if you are a manufacturer or importer, distributer or retailer of any tyre. Companies need to take action immediately to ensure that the tyres that they are supplying are compliant with the law.


All of the companies in a supply chain may be committing an offence if tyres are supplied that contain PAHs above the limits stated in the restriction.


It is your responsibility to ensure that the products your business supplies are compliant.

EU Tyre Safety Requirement - PAHs and REACH SVHC

The testing requirements of tyre are mainly set out in the European regulation concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals(REACH). The legislation came into force on Jun 1st, 2007 and was implemented on Jun 1st, 2008.

The legislation has a tremendous impact on the tyre industry. Tyres that fail to meet the requirements of REACH shall not be placed on EU market. To comply with REACH, tyre suppliers(manufacturers, importers, retailers and distributors)shall identify and test Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs) and Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) in their products. Tyre manufacturers who buy raw chemicals from companies shall ensure that their substances have been registered and their uses have been covered in the registration.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of over 100 different chemicals that are formed during the incomplete burning of coal, oil and gas, garbage, or other organic substances like tobacco or charbroiled meat. PAHs are known for their carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic properties. Plastics and rubber products such as tyre are high risky materials containing PAHs.

REACH Annex XVII has placed a restriction on the use of 8 PAHs in tyres and extender oil. Tyres will not be allowed to be placed on EU market if 8 PAHs exceed certain concentration thresholds listed in the following table. The restriction also applies to the marketing of tyres in EU

Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC)
The minimum criteria for Substances of Very High Concerns（SVHCs）are set forth in Article 57 of REACH Regulation:

- carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction (CMRs);
- persistent, bio-accumulative and toxic (PBTs);
- very persistent and bio-accumulative (vPvBs);
- seriously and / or irreversibly damaging the environment or human health, such as - substances damaging the hormone system;

Tyres belong to the “article” category under REACH. Suppliers of tyres must fulfill the following obligations when a SVHC on candidate list is present:

- Communication Requirement: Suppliers of tyres which contain substances on the Candidate List in a concentration above 0.1% (w/w) have to provide sufficient information (such as SDS, substance declaration) to allow safe use of the article to their customers or upon request, to a consumer within 45 days of the receipt of the request.This information must contain as a minimum the name of the substance.

- Notification: EU producers or importers of tyres have to notify ECHA if their article contains a substance on the Candidate List. This obligation applies if the substance is present in those articles in quantities over one tonne per producer or importer per year and if the substance is present in those articles above a concentration of 0.1% (w/w).

Reminder: Since Switzerland is not a member of the EU or the European Economic Area (EEA), EU REACH regulation does not apply. Switzerland has its own chemical regulations adopting REACH-like registration and restriction requirements. Please refer to Swiss Chemicals Ordinance (ChemO) and Swiss Chemical Risk Reduction Ordinance (ORRChem) for more info.

Related Substance Restrictions

REACH Substance of Very High Concern (SVHC)

REACH Restricted Substances

EU RoHS/RoHS 2

China RoHS 2

Norway PoHS

Swiss Chemical Risk Reduction Ordinance

California Proposition 65

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

Ozone-depleting Substances

Mercury and Its Compounds

Second SVHC Candidate List Published

The Member States Committee of the European Chemical Agency (ECHA) has unanimously agreed that a further 15 substances of very high concern (SVHC) should be included on the REACH Candidate List of substances that may require authorisation under REACH.

ECHA is expected to formally adopt the decision and publish the 15 substances identified as SVHCs on the Candidate List in January, bringing the total on the list to 30.

The Agency is expected to recommend which of the substances should be prioritised for authorisation, and thus included in Annex XIV, sometime in the second half of next year.

Reminder: Since Switzerland is not a member of the EU or the European Economic Area (EEA), EU REACH regulation does not apply. Switzerland has its own chemical regulations adopting REACH-like registration and restriction requirements. Please refer to Swiss Chemicals Ordinance (ChemO) and Swiss Chemical Risk Reduction Ordinance (ORRChem) for more info.