SVHC Candidate List
Public list managed by ECHA of substances identified as SVHC under Article 59 REACH. Updated half-yearly in June and December. Over 250 substances in force in 2026.
Context
The SVHC Candidate List is the public list managed by ECHA of substances identified as Substances of Very High Concern under Art. 59 REACH. It is the first step of the procedure that may lead to Annex XIV (authorisation).
Regulatory origin
Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 Art. 59. The list in force at echa.europa.eu/candidate-list-table is updated half-yearly (June and December).
Art. 59 procedure to include a substance
The Commission or a Member State prepares a dossier in accordance with Annex XV REACH.
ECHA publishes a notice inviting comments from interested parties.
Within 60 days, Member States and ECHA may submit comments.
If there are no comments, ECHA includes the substance in the Candidate List automatically.
If there are comments, the Member State Committee decides unanimously.
Timeline
First list
ECHA publishes the first 15 identified SVHC.
Half-yearly update
Typically 5-15 substances added per update.
Over 250 substances
The Candidate List in force exceeds 250 SVHC.
Applied case
A textile brand monitors the Candidate List to anticipate impacts on its catalogue.
Subscription to the ECHA Candidate List Updates newsletter (half-yearly alert).
When a new SVHC is added, it cross-checks it against its master list of chemical inputs (dyes, wetting agents, retardants).
If it affects any input: requests an updated SDS from the supplier + a substitution plan.
Notifies SCIP of the affected articles before the next first placing on the market.
Common mistakes
The Candidate List is not the same as REACH Annex XIV.
The Candidate List identifies SVHC substances. Annex XIV is the binding Authorisation list. Moving from the Candidate List to Annex XIV requires a Commission delegated act with priority and dates (sunset date / latest application date). Not all Candidate List SVHC end up in Annex XIV.
There is no obligation to withdraw the substance immediately.
Inclusion in the Candidate List only triggers communication (Art. 33) and notification (SCIP) obligations. The obligation NOT to use the substance is only triggered when it enters Annex XIV with a sunset date, and only if authorisation is not obtained for a specific use (Art. 60-64).
The 0.1% w/w threshold applies to the article, not the final product.
The 0.1% threshold is calculated on each individual article (zip, cord, part), not on the final composite product. A cotton shirt with a zip at 0.5% SVHC triggers the obligation even if the weight of the zip relative to the shirt is <0.1%.
The Candidate List does not include substances of low concern.
Only SVHC meeting the strict criteria of Art. 57 enter. It is not a generic list of chemicals. Substances restricted or controlled by other legislation (cosmetics, biocides, food) have their own mechanisms.
Frequently asked questions
What is the SVHC Candidate List?
Candidate List of substances of very high concern, a public list managed by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA, Helsinki) under the REACH Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 Art. 59. It includes substances identified as Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) for meeting the criteria of Art. 57 — CMR 1A/1B, PBT, vPvB or substances of equivalent concern. It is the first step of the procedure that may lead to Annex XIV (authorisation).
Who must verify whether their articles contain Candidate List SVHC?
Any brand or importer that places articles on the EU market under Art. 33 REACH. If an article contains SVHC at a concentration >0.1 percent w/w it must (i) communicate the information to the B2B customer in free format (Art. 33.1), (ii) respond to the consumer within 45 days (Art. 33.2), (iii) notify ECHA's SCIP database (introduced by Dir. (EU) 2018/851 Art. 9.1.i, in force since 5 Jan 2021).
How many substances are on the current Candidate List?
In 2026 the Candidate List includes >250 identified SVHC substances. It is typically updated twice a year (June and December) following the Art. 59 REACH procedure (Annex XV dossier + 60 days of comments from Member States and ECHA + decision). The list in force and machine-readable at echa.europa.eu/candidate-list-table — XML format for integration with compliance systems.
How does the Candidate List affect a textile brand?
It requires verifying the chemical composition of each imported article (zips, dyes, DWR/anti-wrinkle treatments, flame retardants). If it exceeds the 0.1 percent w/w threshold of any SVHC, the economic operator must notify SCIP + communicate to B2B customers + respond to the consumer within 45 days under Art. 33 REACH. Multi-tier traceability is mandatory — Tier 2-3 suppliers must declare the chemistry used via SDS in accordance with CLP (Reg. 1272/2008).
What is the difference between SVHC and the Candidate List?
SVHC is the CATEGORY of substance that meets the Art. 57 REACH criteria (CMR 1A/1B, PBT, vPvB, substance of equivalent concern). The Candidate List is the PUBLIC LIST where an SVHC is included after the Art. 59 procedure. A substance can be SVHC technically without yet being on the Candidate List if no one has submitted the Annex XV dossier. Inclusion in the list triggers the communication and SCIP notification obligations.
Fuentes oficiales
- European Chemicals Agency30 dic 2006Regulatory list
- European Parliament and Council · OJEU2026 (actualizada semestralmente)Regulation in force
- European Chemicals Agencyjun 2017Technical guidance
