SVHC Testing and Certification

SVHC Testing and Certification
 

SVHC is an abbreviation of the English term “Substance of Very High Concern” and stands for High Risk Substances. According to the REACH directive, SVHC substances that can be found in the contents of various products and materials must be kept under control with restrictions and permits to be brought to their use. The main purpose of these restriction and control practices is the substances in the contents of the products that carry a high risk for the environment and human health.
The product groups and materials where High Risk Substances can be found are as follows:

• Paints and Inks
• Glues
•Toys
• Furniture products
• Textile products
• Electrical products and electronic devices
• Leather products
• Plastic processing products
•Cosmetics
•Food products
• Petroleum processing products

Known as Substances of High Risk, SVHC may have the following properties and ingredients that may adversely affect the environment and human health:

• Carcinogen causing cancer
• Mutagenic causing genetic change
• Harmful toxic to reproduction
• Resistant to long-term degradation in the environment
• Bioaccumulative causing bioaccumulation in animals
• Endocrine inhibitor

Within the scope of the REACH policy implemented by the European Union (EU), the stakeholders in the entire supply chain of a product must meet the SVHC requirements. REACH policy is a policy implemented by the EU on the management of chemicals. REACH is the abbreviation of the term "Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals" in English. In Turkish, it means "Registration, Evaluation, Regulatory and Restriction of Chemicals". It makes it necessary to record what kind of chemicals the products contain and to show the information on the chemical contents on the packages. It prevents the use of chemicals harmful to human health in food products.


REACH SVHC Obligations


Goods suppliers operating in European Union countries are obliged to report this SVHC information at all stages of the supply chain if their products contain more than 0.1% (w/w) SVHC (high risk substance).
If the total amount of SVHC in all products produced, exported or imported within a year is more than one tonne, the concerned parties must also notify ECHA (European Chemicals Agency).
Manufacturers should also regularly check the list of REACH Authorized Substances. Because the number of substances whose use is subject to permission increases from year to year and new materials are added to the list with new updates.
Suppliers that prepare mixtures for consumers may be liable if the SVHC ratio in the mixtures they prepare is 0.1% (w/w) and above. In this case, suppliers are obliged to provide a "safety data sheet" to distributors and downstream users upon request.


What is the SVHC Test?


The process performed to determine whether there is a high-risk substance in the products, and if so, its rate and amount is called the SVHC Test. This test helps businesses meet their REACH obligations. SVHC tests consist of a screening process as follows:

• Test operations can be done on the product surface. Therefore, product integrity is not compromised.
• It is checked whether the product contains SVHC (high risk substances) exceeding 0.1% (w/w) of the product weight.
• If SVHC is present in the products, it is determined which material or component it contains and what type of SVHC it is and an identification is made.
• A change can be made in the manufacture of a product with a high SVHC content, or a “REACH disclosure document” can be created about the product.
SVHC test types may vary in line with the different needs of manufacturers and suppliers. According to this:
• Full test and imaging tests based on product risk for products on the candidate list,
• Tests for SVHC materials on the REACH authorisation list
• Tests performed because it contains SVHC materials that are not in the candidate list, but not in compliance with the legislation.


SVHC Certification


The circulation of a product that is found to be one of the substances on the REACH List of Substances Subject to Authorization as a result of SVHC tests is subject to permission in EU countries. Therefore, the permission of ECHA (European Chemicals Agency) will be required for the manufacture, export and import of this product. As a result; The above-mentioned ECHA permission is required in order to present the products that are on the SVHC (high risk substances) list and that have the SVHC Certificate to the consumer. The fact that a product has an SVHC certificate means that it does not have unauthorized circulation in EU countries.