SVHC Substance of High Concern Tests

The abbreviation SVHC is derived from the phrase substances of very high concern, meaning substances of high concern. SVHC tests are performed to provide assurance to businesses, consumers and end users that the tested products and materials do not contain chemicals harmful to human health and the environment.

In the Directive on Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (EC) No. 1907/2006, which is in force in the European Union countries and known as REACH, regulates the presence of substances of high importance in consumer goods.

Advanced laboratories today perform screening analyzes against the current SVHC list identified of substances of very high concern for authorization. Consumer products, materials and ingredients are screened to determine if any of the listed SVHCs are above 0,1 percent (1000 ppm). In this scanning process, both product risk assessment and composite testing are performed.

In general, SVHC tests for substances of high concern are carried out for the following product groups:

• Leather products
• Shoes
• clothing
• Accessories
• Jewels (charms)
• Children's products including toys
• flooring materials
• Household items and decorative items

Substances of very high concern are often abbreviated as SVHC. In general, an SVHC is a substance that meets one or more of the following criteria:

• Class 1 or 2 carcinogen, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction
• PBT (persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic) or very persistent, very bioaccumulative and toxic substance according to the REACH directive annex
• Other substances with evidence of an equivalent level of concern, such as endocrine disruptors

There are over a thousand items that potentially meet these criteria. However, for REACH compliance, SVHCs refer specifically to substances that meet the specified hazard categories and are placed on the candidate list of substances evaluated for authorization by the Commission. In the case of the textile supply chain, the substance can be present at any stage, from fiber production to spinning of yarn, fabrication, processing and finishing, and finally to storage.

Among the numerous test, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies it provides for businesses in various sectors, our organization also provides SVHC substance testing services of high importance with its trained and expert staff and advanced technological equipment.