The SVHC candidate list is updated whenever a proposal is made to add a new substance to the list. The ECHA initiates a 45 day public consultation period to determine if the substance should be included. If there are no adverse comments, the substance is included. Otherwise, the decision is made by the European Commission.
Important groups of SVHCs on the candidate list include:
- Carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction (CMRs)
- Persistent, bio-accumulative and toxic (PBTs)
- Very persistent and bio-accumulative (vPvBs)
- Seriously and/or irreversibly damaging the environment or human health (e.g. substances damaging the hormone system)
The full list of SVHCs can be found on the ECHA website.