SVHC list under REACH has 253 entries as of October 2026
The EU REACH SVHC list has 253 entries, last updated on 4 February 2026. Check the official ECHA table, group scope and duties for article suppliers.
The EU REACH SVHC list contains 253 entries as of 29 October 2026, with its latest update on 4 February 2026. Use ECHA's official Candidate List table to check a substance and the full scope of its entry.
SVHC means substance of very high concern. Article 59 establishes the Candidate List for eventual inclusion in Annex XIV. REACH is a regulation, not a directive. Inclusion alone doesn't prohibit every use.
What changed in the latest SVHC list update?
ECHA added two entries on 4 February 2026. Its announcement confirms the total of 253 entries and explains that some cover groups of chemicals.
| New entry | Identifiers and scope | Reason for inclusion |
|---|---|---|
| n-hexane | EC 203-777-6; CAS 110-54-3 | Specific target organ toxicity after repeated exposure, Article 57(f), human health |
| Bisphenol AF and its salts | Group entry, not one substance and not one CAS number | Toxic for reproduction, Article 57(c) |
The announcement names that group 4,4'-[2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)ethylidene]diphenol and its salts, and shows EC and CAS as a dash. The live table identifies parent bisphenol AF as EC 216-036-7, CAS 1478-61-1. That CAS number does not identify every salt covered by the entry.
Count entries, not individual chemicals. ECHA explains that group entries mean the number of affected chemicals exceeds 253. But a consultation or a proposal is not an inclusion. Article 59 separates those steps from the decision and publication of the updated list.
How to check a substance on the REACH SVHC list
Start with the ECHA Candidate List table. A saved count is not a substitute for the live entry.
- Open "Filter the list" and use the "Substance Identifier" field to search your substance's identifiers.
- Compare the result's substance name, EC number and CAS number with your substance information.
- Read the full entry scope, inclusion date and reason for inclusion.
- Check names and group coverage if an exact identifier produces no match.
Group entries with a dash are awkward to screen.
A missing CAS match is not clearance, because each entry covers anhydrous and hydrated forms, including hydrated forms with other CAS numbers, and a dash means the supplied identifier inventory is non-exhaustive. These scope notes appear on the official table.
Does inclusion mean a substance is banned?
No. Candidate List status, Annex XIV authorisation and Annex XVII restrictions are separate checks in the consolidated REACH text. Annex XIV has substance-specific sunset dates and authorisation provisions. Article 67 requires compliance with the conditions of an applicable Annex XVII restriction.
The live table warns of immediate legal obligations. Article 33 applies to articles containing a Candidate List substance above 0.1% weight by weight. Suppliers must give recipients sufficient available information for safe use, including at least the substance's name. This duty has no one-tonne annual threshold. Suppliers must also provide that information to consumers on request, free of charge, within 45 days. That deadline is not a general grace period for supplying information to professional recipients.
Which list applies in Great Britain?
UK REACH and EU REACH operate independently. HSE explains that UK REACH covers Great Britain: England, Scotland and Wales. EU REACH continues to apply in Northern Ireland.
For GB checks, use HSE's Candidate List page. Don't assume an EU addition automatically changes the GB list. HSE describes a separate UK identification and inclusion process.
RegAffairs AI's answer to this question offers a starting point for a lookup. The current entry scope is on ECHA's official table.