On 4 February 2026, ECHA added two new Substances of Very High Concern to the REACH Candidate List, taking it to 253 entries. The additions, n-Hexane and Bisphenol AF (and its salts), trigger immediate communication, notification, and SCIP obligations for manufacturers, importers, and downstream users across electronics, automotive, coatings, plastics, and consumer goods.
For compliance teams, the practical question is not whether the list grew. It is whether their systems can detect 0.1% w/w concentrations across multi-tier BOMs, file the Article 7(2) notification by 4 August 2026, and update SCIP entries without manual rework.
➡ Book a Certivo compliance assessment to map your SVHC exposure across product families and suppliers.
Key Takeaways
📌 The REACH SVHC Candidate List reached 253 entries on 4 February 2026 with two new additions.
⚠️ n-Hexane (CAS 110-54-3) was added under Article 57(f) for specific target organ toxicity, the first SVHC identified on equivalent-level-of-concern grounds for neurotoxicity.
🧪 4,4′-[2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)ethylidene]diphenol and its salts (Bisphenol AF) was added under Article 57(c) for reproductive toxicity, covering a group of nine substances.
⏳ Article 7(2) ECHA notifications for articles containing the new SVHCs above 0.1% w/w were due by 4 August 2026.
📊 Article 33 information duty, SCIP database notification, and SDS updates apply immediately upon listing.
🏭 Electronics, automotive, plastics, coatings, and industrial chemicals sectors carry the highest exposure.
🤖 AI-native compliance automation reduces SVHC screening, supplier follow-up, and SCIP submission effort from weeks to hours.
Table of Contents
What the REACH SVHC Candidate List Is
Regulatory Update Context (2026)
The Two New SVHCs Added in February 2026
Legal Obligations Triggered by Candidate List Inclusion
Industries and Product Categories Affected
Where SVHC Compliance Typically Breaks Down
How Certivo Automates SVHC Candidate List Compliance
Building a Future-Ready SVHC Strategy
FAQs
What the REACH SVHC Candidate List Is
The Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern is ECHA's official register of chemicals identified as posing serious risks to human health or the environment under Article 57 of REACH. Inclusion is not a ban. It is the trigger for a defined chain of legal obligations covering article producers, importers, mixture suppliers, and consumer-facing brands.
Substances on the Candidate List may later be moved to Annex XIV (Authorisation List), where their use becomes subject to ECHA authorisation. That progression from Candidate List to Authorisation is why proactive SVHC tracking matters: by the time a substance reaches Annex XIV, redesign cycles are already late.
For context on the broader regulatory architecture, see Certivo's REACH framework overview.
Regulatory Update Context (2026)
The Candidate List moved from 250 entries (June 2024) to 251 (DBDPE addition), then to 253 with the February 2026 update. Several signals make 2026 a step-change year for SVHC compliance.
What changed in 2025 and 2026
✓ Candidate List now at 253 entries as of 4 February 2026.
✓ First neurotoxicity-based SVHC: n-Hexane is the first substance added under equivalent level of concern (ELOC) for neurotoxicity rather than CMR criteria.
✓ Bisphenol AF group listing: the entry covers nine related substances, expanding the screening surface for downstream users.
✓ Article 7(2) notification deadline: 4 August 2026 for both new substances.
✓ Resorcinol pending: identification process remains active despite Bisphenol F (BPF) being withdrawn before the December 2025 Member State Committee meeting.
✓ Annex XIV recommendations: ECHA has recommended four further substances for authorisation, signaling continued throughput from Candidate List to Authorisation.
For sector-specific impact analysis, see Certivo's coverage of the n-Hexane and Bisphenol AF additions and the REACH SVHC and Annex XVII changes.
The Two New SVHCs Added in February 2026
n-Hexane (CAS 110-54-3, EC 203-777-6)
Article 57 basis: 57(f), equivalent level of concern, human health (neurotoxicity)
Common uses: formulations, polymer processing, coatings, cleaning agents, adhesives, extraction solvent in vegetable oil production
Why it matters: the first ELOC-based neurotoxicity addition signals that future SVHC identifications will reach beyond the CMR triad
Bisphenol AF and its salts (group of 9 substances)
Full name: 4,4′-[2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)ethylidene]diphenol
Article 57 basis: 57(c), toxic for reproduction
Common uses: cross-linking agent in fluoroelastomers, process regulator, specialty polymer manufacture
Why it matters: group listings multiply the BOM-level screening burden because each related substance must be checked independently
Manufacturers should immediately query suppliers for these substances across all incoming materials. See Certivo's prior analysis of DBDPE and the path to SVHC 251 for how previous additions have played out operationally.
Legal Obligations Triggered by Candidate List Inclusion
Once a substance is on the Candidate List, the obligations apply immediately. There is no grace period for compliance teams to "catch up."
Article 33 (Information duty)
Suppliers of articles containing an SVHC above 0.1% w/w must provide recipients with sufficient information to allow safe use. Consumers may request this information and must receive it within 45 days, free of charge.
Article 7(2) (Notification to ECHA)
Producers and importers must notify ECHA if both:
✓ The SVHC is present above 0.1% w/w in the article, and
✓ The total quantity exceeds 1 tonne per producer or importer per year.
Notification is due within six months of Candidate List inclusion. For the February 2026 additions, the deadline was 4 August 2026.
SCIP database notification
Under the Waste Framework Directive, suppliers placing articles on the EU market containing Candidate List substances above 0.1% w/w must submit a SCIP notification to ECHA. SCIP entries become publicly accessible.
Safety Data Sheet updates
Suppliers of substances and mixtures must update SDS sections to reflect SVHC identification, including exposure scenarios where relevant.
Authorisation pathway
SVHCs may be added to Annex XIV in future review cycles. Once on Annex XIV, the substance cannot be used after the sunset date without ECHA authorisation. Review ECHA's recent Annex XIV authorisation recommendations for the substances most likely to escalate.
➡ Get a REACH compliance risk assessment to identify SVHC exposure and Annex XIV upgrade risk in your portfolio.
Industries and Product Categories Affected
The February 2026 additions cut across several high-volume sectors:
🏭 Electronics manufacturing: cleaning solvents (n-Hexane), fluoroelastomers and seals (Bisphenol AF)
🏭 Automotive: adhesives, coatings, sealing components
🏭 Plastics and polymer processing: cross-linking agents, specialty resins
🏭 Coatings and inks: formulation solvents
🏭 Industrial chemicals: extraction, formulation, intermediate use
🏭 Consumer goods: any article containing fluoroelastomer components or residual extraction solvent
For sectors managing complex multi-tier BOMs, the practical exposure rarely surfaces at tier-1. Group listings like Bisphenol AF (covering nine substances) commonly hide in tier-2 and tier-3 specialty additives and processing aids.
Where SVHC Compliance Typically Breaks Down
⚠ Incomplete supplier declarations that confirm "no SVHCs" without naming the latest Candidate List version
⚠ 0.1% w/w threshold confusion at the article versus complex object level; the threshold applies per article, not per finished product
⚠ Group listings where only one CAS number is screened and related substances slip through
⚠ Missed Article 7(2) deadlines because the six-month clock starts immediately on listing
⚠ SCIP entries not updated after BOM changes or supplier substitutions
⚠ SDS lag where downstream users continue distributing outdated documents
Audit-ready posture requires immutable, time-stamped evidence chains tied to BOM-level data. A supplier declaration from 2024 does not cover a 2026 SVHC addition. Continuous re-validation against the current Candidate List version is the operational baseline.
How Certivo Automates SVHC Candidate List Compliance
Manual SVHC screening does not scale to 253 entries (some covering substance groups), staggered ECHA updates, and the 0.1% w/w article-level threshold across multi-tier BOMs.
What Certivo provides
📊 CORA-powered regulatory intelligence that ingests every ECHA Candidate List update and maps new SVHCs to affected parts and BOMs.
📊 AI document parsing that extracts CAS numbers, concentrations, and exemption claims from supplier declarations, SDSs, and IPC-1752 disclosures.
📊 BOM-level threshold checks that flag every part where an SVHC exceeds 0.1% w/w at the article level.
📊 Automated supplier follow-up with multilingual reminders and self-service portals for missing or expired declarations.
📊 Article 7(2) and SCIP workflow support with pre-populated submission data and notification deadline tracking.
📊 Audit-ready evidence chains with immutable logs, time-stamped declarations, and historical state tracking.
📊 Cross-framework data reuse so the same supplier data feeds REACH, RoHS, SCIP, EU Battery Regulation, and Digital Product Passport requirements.
See how Certivo applies this approach across chemical and hazmat compliance and BOM-level compliance tracking.
For broader context on REACH operational readiness, see Certivo's analysis of mastering REACH recast for EU market access.
Building a Future-Ready SVHC Strategy
Re-screen the full BOM against the current 253-entry Candidate List, including all substances in group listings
Reissue supplier declaration requests explicitly referencing the February 2026 update and listing CAS numbers for n-Hexane and Bisphenol AF
File Article 7(2) notifications for any qualifying article (above 0.1% w/w and above 1 tonne per year)
Update SCIP entries for affected articles
Refresh SDS documents across substances and mixtures
Track Annex XIV upgrade risk for substances already on the Candidate List
Automate ongoing monitoring so the next ECHA update does not require a manual fire drill
The shift from reactive compliance to continuous readiness is what separates manufacturers that absorb each Candidate List update without disruption from those that scramble every six months. See how Certivo helps manufacturers manage compliance risk proactively through automated supplier data collection and multi-tier supplier visibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many substances are on the REACH SVHC Candidate List in 2026?
As of 4 February 2026, the Candidate List contains 253 entries. Some entries cover groups of substances, so the actual number of regulated chemicals is higher. ECHA updates the list approximately twice per year.
What were the two new SVHCs added in February 2026?
n-Hexane (CAS 110-54-3) under Article 57(f) for neurotoxicity, and 4,4′-[2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)ethylidene]diphenol and its salts (Bisphenol AF), a group of nine substances, under Article 57(c) for reproductive toxicity.
What is the deadline for ECHA Article 7(2) notification for the new SVHCs?
Producers and importers of articles containing the new SVHCs above 0.1% w/w and exceeding 1 tonne per year were required to notify ECHA within six months of inclusion, by 4 August 2026.
Does Candidate List inclusion ban a substance?
No. Inclusion triggers information, notification, and SCIP obligations but does not ban use. Substances may later be moved to Annex XIV (Authorisation List), at which point continued use requires ECHA authorisation.
How can manufacturers automate SVHC compliance across multi-tier supply chains?
AI-native compliance platforms such as Certivo automate Candidate List updates, supplier declaration collection, BOM-level threshold checks, Article 7(2) and SCIP workflows, and audit-ready evidence chains, reducing manual effort and missed deadlines.
Lavanya
Hariprasanth is a Chemical Compliance Specialist with nearly four years of experience, underpinned by a degree in Chemical Engineering. He brings in-depth expertise in global product compliance, working across key regulations such as REACH, RoHS, TSCA, Proposition 65, POPs, FMD, and PFCMRT.
Hariprasanth specializes in reviewing technical documentation, validating supplier inputs, and ensuring that products consistently meet regulatory standards. He works closely with cross-functional teams and suppliers to collect accurate material data and deliver clear, audit-ready compliance reports that stand up to scrutiny.
Through his strong analytical skills and regulatory insight, Hariprasanth enables organizations to navigate evolving compliance challenges while aligning with sustainability initiatives in an increasingly dynamic regulatory environment.