In the global market, ensuring that your products are safe, sustainable, and compliant with European Union regulations is non-negotiable. REACH—the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals—is the cornerstone of chemical management in the EU, designed to protect human health and the environment.

What is REACH SVHC?

Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) are chemicals identified as posing significant risks to human health or the environment, often because they are carcinogenic, mutagenic, toxic to reproduction (CMR), or persistent/bioaccumulative. Under REACH, manufacturers, importers, and retailers are legally obligated to manage these substances strictly.

If an article contains an SVHC in a concentration above 0.1% (w/w), you are legally required to notify the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and inform downstream users and consumers upon request.

Requirements for Toys & Hardgoods

Toys, children's products, home furnishings, and their packaging are subject to intense scrutiny.  Because these items are frequently handled, and in the case of children's toys & other products, placed in the mouth, the presence of hazardous substances is a critical safety and compliance failure.

• Material Diversity: Plastics, coatings, metals, textiles, and adhesives in toys and hardgoods must all be screened for phthalates, flame retardants, and heavy metals.
• Complex Articles: A toy is rarely made of a single material. Every component (e.g., the rubber wheels on a toy car, the paint on a wooden block) must be evaluated as an individual article against the 0.1% threshold.
• Packaging: Packaging materials—including cardboard, plastic film, and printed labels—are also considered articles under REACH and must comply with SVHC limits.

Connection to the EU PPWR (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation)

As the EU moves toward a circular economy, chemical compliance and packaging rules are increasingly interconnected. The upcoming Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) places strict emphasis on packaging safety and sustainability.

• Restriction of Hazardous Substances: PPWR aligns with chemical frameworks like REACH to restrict the presence of heavy metals and SVHCs in packaging materials, ensuring recycled content remains safe and non-toxic.
• Traceability & Transparency: Packaging must meet stringent recyclability and substance safety criteria. Managing SVHCs proactively ensures your packaging complies with both REACH article rules and emerging PPWR mandates.

SGS REACH SVHC Service

Based on Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, we have different package offers based on different material groups, such as Raw materials, Polymers, Elastomers, Mixtures, Metals, Ceramics, Glass, and Batteries.