SCIP– A new data base introduced by ECHA

ECHA plans to maintain a database that contains the information on Substances of Concern In Articles or Products. The guideline regarding SCIP database requirements were released on 9th Sep 2019. This information will be available to waste operators and consumers.

The idea is to improve the transparency on hazardous substances throughout the lifecycle of an article, including the waste stage. Under the Waste Framework Directive, 2008/98/EC, companies that supply articles that contain SVHC candidates, in concentration above 0.1%w/w, will have to submit enough information to allow safe use of those products/articles to ECHA. The database takes the requirements of Article 33 of the REACH Regulation and provides a mandatory platform for submission of the information as from 5 Jan 2021.

Below are the main objectives of database.

• Decrease hazardous waste generation, by providing substitution for SVHCs.
• Make information transparent for waste treatment operations.
• Allowing monitoring use of SVHC in articles and initiating appropriate actions on the overall lifecycle of the products. It includes waste stage also.

The information available in SCIP database will help waste operators to understand the hazardous substance, so that material streams can potentially be “cleaned” before recycling and reused in the production of new articles and thus ensure a true and safe circular economy.
In addition, the increased transparency on the presence of hazardous substances will help consumers to make better choices when purchasing products and provide information on the best usage and disposal of such articles.

ECHA requires information from below categories to SCIP database.

• EU producers and assemblers
• EU importers
• EU distributors, who place articles/products directly to the market.

Retailers and other supply chain supplying articles/products directly to consumers are not covered to this obligation.

Apart from information on those articles which contain Candidate List substances in a concentration above 0.1% w/w and administrative contact details, suppliers of articles also need to provide the following information to ECHA:

• information to identify of the article (including picture and characteristics);
• the name, concentration range and location of the SVHC(s) present in article/Product;
• An instruction on the safe use of the article, especially to ensure proper management of the article after it becomes waste.

Dates to remember:

• Autumn 2019: launch of a user test group and a stakeholder workshop at ECHA (preliminary date 12 November)
• Early 2020: launch of the prototype version of the database
• July 2020: deadline for Member States to transpose the legal requirements into national law
• 5 January 2021: notification duty kicks in for industry

ComplianceXL will help manufacturers, importers and distributers to manage their SCIP database as per ECHA. This will improve the transparency of hazardous substances, while steering clear of any problems related to certain substances and enable more accurate production capabilities.