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Why SVHC Screening Is a Non-Negotiable for REACH Compliance
Under the EU REACH regulation, businesses that manufacture, import, or supply articles in the European market must identify and disclose the presence of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs). Failure to comply can result in market bans, damaged reputation, and steep penalties.
SVHC screening is not just a regulatory checkbox—it's a proactive risk management practice. With over 240+ substances currently on the Candidate List (as of 2025), and updates every six months, staying ahead demands automation, precision, and scale.
What Are SVHCs?
SVHCs are chemicals that have serious effects on human health or the environment. They include substances that are:
- Carcinogenic, Mutagenic, or Toxic to Reproduction (CMR)
- Persistent, Bioaccumulative and Toxic (PBT)
- Very Persistent and Very Bioaccumulative (vPvB)
- Or identified on a case-by-case basis for equivalent concern (e.g., endocrine disruptors)
SVHCs are listed on the REACH Candidate List, and if present above 0.1% w/w in articles, they must be:
- Communicated to downstream users (Article 33 REACH)
- Reported in the SCIP database (if applicable)
The SVHC Screening Challenge: Data Gaps & Complexity
Non-EU manufacturers face three major pain points:
- Lack of product-level material disclosure from suppliers
- Manual tracking of ever-changing SVHC lists
- Inconsistent formats of supplier declarations (PDFs, spreadsheets, emails)
Manually verifying thousands of parts and substances across global supply chains is simply not scalable.
Enter SVHC Screening Tools: What They Do
Modern SVHC screening tools, like the ones offered by Acquis, help automate and standardize the process. Key features include:
- Bill of Material (BoM) Analysis: Upload your BoMs to detect substances and materials flagged as SVHCs
- Automated Matching: Map CAS numbers or material codes to the REACH Candidate List in real time
- Regulatory Updates Feed: Get instant alerts when ECHA updates the SVHC list
- Data Gap Detection: Identify missing supplier data and trigger follow-up actions
- SCIP Integration: Seamless export of data for SCIP dossier generation
Benefits of Using SVHC Screening Software
- Reduce risk of non-compliance fines or recall
- Save time and resources through automation
- Maintain always-audit-ready documentation
- Gain visibility into high-risk suppliers or materials
Best Practices When Using SVHC Screening Tools
- Start with your BoM: Upload your product data to get a baseline screening
- Involve your suppliers early: Share requirements and formats for material declarations (e.g. IPC-1752A, IEC 62474)
- Set update alerts: Stay aligned with ECHA’s biannual SVHC list updates
- Build a compliance dashboard: Track supplier coverage, risk scores, and open gaps
Book a Strategy Call: Simplify Your SVHC Screening Today
Ready to automate SVHC screening across your supply chain? Acquis helps global manufacturers eliminate compliance uncertainty with tools built for speed, scale, and accuracy.
Book a Free Compliance Strategy Call and see how our SVHC screening solutions can work for you.
