Information on SVHCs in Short Supply

A large number of suppliers in Europe are unable to give their customers the information regarding hazardous substances in their products that is required by law. This is one of the findings of a recently published surveillance project by the EU market surveillance authorities. DEKRA’s experts on hazardous substances are urgently advising importers, manufacturers and retailers to look into the materials they use in their products at the earliest opportunity.

The European market surveillance authorities have published their report on REACH Article 33, which sets out the notification duties relating to potentially hazardous substances (SVHCs). The surveillance project examined a total of 405 companies in 15 countries. Checks were carried out on 682 products, including clothing and shoes, wires, cables and electronic devices, plastic or textile flooring, and other rubber and plastic products.

Around 12% of the products tested were found to contain more than 0.1% of what are known as candidate substances. However, almost nine out of ten (88%) of the suppliers of the products affected with a duty to notify were unable to supply their customers with the information stipulated in REACH Article 33. In the view of the DEKRA experts, this reiterates the point that companies do not have sufficient reliable information about their products.

Article 33 of the REACH regulation stipulates that commercial consumers must be told the names of the candidate substances exceeding a concentration of over 0.1% that are contained in products. Instructions on how to safely handle the products must also be provided. Consumers have a right to information and companies have a 45-day window in which to provide it.

DEKRA advises any companies affected by this to take a material-specific approach because information about materials is usually readily available in the supply chain. Depending on the material, the number of potential SVHCs can be significantly reduced. DEKRA has developed a database that contains more than 150 common materials and, for each material, provides a statement regarding the probability of the material containing an SVHC. Companies can use this information to communicate with suppliers and conduct laboratory testing of samples in a more focused and efficient way. DEKRA offers test plans for the analysis of SVHCs at its accredited laboratories in Germany and China.

www.dekra.de/de/svhc