ECHA database on articles containing substances of very high concern

Under the revised Waste Framework Directive, ECHA has been given a task to build a database on articles containing substances of very high concern (SVHCs) from the Candidate List. The main aim is to support circular economy, prevent waste being generated and reduce hazardous substances in materials and products.

The database is part of the EU’s new package, aiming to reuse recycled waste as a reliable source of raw materials in the future. By having a better knowledge of which articles contain hazardous substances, waste treatment operators can improve their waste separation and recycling processes. It will also increase authorities’ information on Candidate List substances in articles.

The ECHA database will contain information on articles containing Candidate List substances, in quantities of more than 0.1 % of their weight. Companies who supply such articles – either produced in the EU or imported – will need to submit company data, Candidate List substance data, the article description and safe use instructions of the article to ECHA.

This information requirement is not new. Under REACH, companies already have to communicate information on articles containing Candidate List substances down the supply chain.

However, there is very little information for waste operators about the hazardous substances in the waste they are processing. This can lead to hazardous substances ending up in recycled materials. The database aims to resolve this gap in the information flow.

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