Substances of Very High Concern
SVHC
Definition
Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) are chemical substances identified by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) as having serious effects on human health or the environment. They include carcinogens, mutagens, reproductive toxins, persistent bioaccumulative toxins, and endocrine disruptors.
As of March 2026, there are 251 SVHCs on the ECHA Candidate List, with new substances added approximately twice per year.
Why SVHCs matter for DPP
ESPR Article 9 requires that Digital Product Passports disclose the presence of substances of concern in products. The primary source for this data is the REACH SVHC Candidate List.
If a product contains any SVHC above 0.1% by weight at the article level:
- The supplier must inform the recipient
- The information must be notified to the ECHA SCIP database
- The data must be included in the product's DPP
- Consumers can request this information (within 45 days)
The SCIP database
The SCIP (Substances of Concern In Products) database has been mandatory since January 2021 under the Waste Framework Directive. Companies already submitting SCIP notifications have a direct head start on DPP substance data — the same information flows into both systems.
Related terms
- REACH — the regulation governing chemical substances
- Digital Product Passport (DPP) — where SVHC data is disclosed
- Ecodesign — substance restrictions as part of product design requirements