On 7 November 2024, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) added one substance to the Candidate List of substances of very high concern (SVHCs). At the time of that update, the list contained 242 entries. The list can change, so businesses should use ECHA’s current Candidate List when checking a substance today.

Why a Candidate List Entry Matters

Inclusion on the Candidate List can create communication and reporting duties for companies that supply substances, mixtures or articles in the EU. Which duty applies depends on what is supplied, the concentration in an article, quantities and the company’s role in the supply chain. An entry on the list is not, by itself, a statement that every product containing the substance is banned.

Obligations to Review

• Information for recipients and consumers: under REACH Article 33, suppliers of articles containing a Candidate List substance above 0.1% by weight must provide sufficient information for safe use to recipients and, on request, to consumers within the applicable timeframe.
• ECHA notification for articles: REACH Article 7(2) can require producers or importers to notify ECHA when the concentration is above 0.1% by weight and the substance totals more than one tonne per producer or importer per year, subject to the relevant conditions and exemptions. The original update noted a six-month period after a new listing for an applicable notification.
• Safety data sheets: supplying a listed substance on its own or in a mixture can trigger safety-data-sheet duties under the applicable REACH rules. Requirements depend on the substance and mixture, not merely the existence of an article containing it.
• SCIP reporting: under the EU Waste Framework Directive, suppliers placing articles containing a Candidate List substance above 0.1% by weight on the EU market may have to submit information to ECHA’s SCIP database. Assess the article and the supplier’s role before reporting.

These obligations are related but distinct. A company should identify the specific substance, where it occurs in the article or mixture, its concentration and its supply-chain role before deciding which steps apply.

Where to Check the Latest Information

For the substance entry, listing date and current Candidate List, consult the ECHA Candidate List. This article is a summary of the November 2024 update, not a substitute for the current list or product-specific regulatory review.