The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) along with the Waste Framework Directive (WFD) has built a database which can be used to store all the safe-use information for the substances that are of very high concern (SVHCs). These substances are mostly present in the articles manufactured and sold in the EU and are normally considered under restrictions. The EU WFD and the SCIP database are known to add to the existing reporting requirements of the REACH regulations. 

There are three main goals of the ECHA. They are:

• Decrease the amount of waste contained in the hazardous substances by supporting the substitutes of SVHCs in the articles, entering the EU market.
• Increase the transparency of the product composition and improve the waste treatment operations.
• The ECHA have provisions for monitoring the SVHC that are used in the articles so that appropriate measures can be taken at any stage of its lifecycle, even during the waste management stage.

What information should be submitted to the SCIP database?

The waste operators are assured safety with the help of the SCIP database, which further enhances their ability to process the waste materials. They can also safely remove the potentially hazardous substances from the articles before putting them for recycling, since every necessary information about the hazardous substances will be available. This form of transparency also helps the consumers to make safe buying decisions and they can dispose the waste safely as well.

To ensure smooth working, companies must provide all the necessary information of the substances used.

• The correct identification of the article.
• The clear location, name and concentration of the substances from the Candidate List.
• The detailed information that is needed for the safe use of the article and the steps required to be implemented in order to enable proper management during the waste stage.

Who needs to provide the information?

The companies who are placing specific products in the EU market should submit all the required information to the database about the presence of SVHC in any article. These include all and every company which is based within or out of the United States. The retailers do not fall under its scope but the distributors from where they are purchasing are accountable. Other than this, any company can submit their information voluntarily to the portal.

Before you list out your product for sale in the EU, make sure you submit all the necessary and relevant information to the Enviropass SCIP database.