List of Substances of Very High Concern
In the past, this list was known under the name: ‘Black list of substances’.
The Dutch government addresses Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) as a matter of priority. Substances of Very High Concern are substances which are dangerous to people and the environment because they are carcinogenic, impede reproduction or accumulate in the food chain, for example.
The aim of the government's policy is to keep these substances out of the living environment as much as possible. One of the ways in which this is done is by laying down rules in permits for discharges into water and emissions into air.
The identification of Substances of Very High Concern follows from selection criteria laid down in Article 57 of the European REACH Regulation 1907/2006. These criteria are:
- Carcinogenic (C);
- Mutagenic (M);
- Reprotoxic (R);
- Persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT);
- Very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB);
- or of similar concern (e.g. endocrine disruptors).
This list is updated twice a year to take account of any amendments to the above legislation and treaties.
List of Substances of Very High Concern from the Dutch government.