In modern production and consumption, the use of chemicals has become an inevitable fact. However, the use of chemicals also brings environmental and health risks. In order to protect public health and the environment, the EU has formulated REACH regulations, requiring all chemicals to undergo certification before being sold on the market. SVHC testing is a part of REACH certification, used to detect whether chemicals contain harmful substances of special concern. So, what is the difference between REACH authentication and SVHC detection?

1、 What is SVHC

SVHC, also known as substances of high concern, originates from the EU REACH regulation. According to Article 57 of the REACH regulation, SVHC is determined based on the following criteria. Substances with very high levels of concern, serious consequences of harm, and substances that meet the conditions can be placed on a list. The SVHC on this list was first updated on October 28, 2008 and June 20, 2016.


This list is called the candidate list for all substances added by European Chemical Administration (ECHA). SVHC may have very serious or, in some cases, irreversible impact on people and the environment, so the reason for its authorization.


2、 The Relationship between REACH Authentication and SVHC Detection

1. Shortcomings in SVHC detection

At present, SVHC testing plays an important role in quickly determining whether an item contains SVHC. Many companies have also passively chosen to respond to REACH regulations or procurement requirements through testing. However, SVHC testing has exposed some drawbacks:

On the one hand, SVHC testing usually occurs at a certain point in the entire supply chain. Enterprises often passively conduct SVHC testing to meet the requirements of downstream users, in order to obtain a valid pass. However, once the test results are unqualified, it is difficult to identify the problem of exceeding the standard, and the lack of response measures leads to an awkward situation for the entire trade.


On the other hand, with the continuous updating and increasing number of SVHC lists, the limitations of relying solely on testing methods have become more prominent, and the constantly increasing testing costs will make manufacturing enterprises with meager profits unbearable.

2. The relationship between REACH authentication and SVHC detection

Simply put, SVHC is a list of substances of high concern before REACH registration. The term REACH testing commonly used by third-party testing agencies actually refers to SVHC testing of substances of high concern. Testing agencies will test products based on the SVHC list updated by the European Union every year, and this list is constantly increasing.


3、 REACH certification requirements

The main content of REACH certification is to prove that daily products do not contain harmful chemicals to human health. Therefore, all daily products produced in the EU or imported into the EU market, mainly textiles, must pass the registration, inspection, and approval of harmful chemical content. Once the specified content is exceeded, they cannot be sold in the EU market.