The full meaning of SCIP is Substances of Concern In Products. This acronym refers to a database established under the revised EU Waste Framework Directive (WFD), aimed at enhancing the circularity of materials and providing crucial information about hazardous chemicals present in articles.
Decoding SCIP: Substances of Concern In Products
SCIP represents an essential information requirement for articles placed on the European Union market. Its core focus is on substances that are deemed "of concern" due to their potential negative impacts on human health or the environment.
What Qualifies as a 'Substance of Concern'?
In the context of SCIP, "Substances of Concern" primarily refers to Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs). These are identified under the EU's REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) Regulation and are included in the Candidate List. SVHCs possess hazardous properties such as:
- Carcinogenic, Mutagenic, or Toxic for Reproduction (CMRs): Substances that can cause cancer, genetic mutations, or adverse effects on reproductive functions.
- Persistent, Bioaccumulative and Toxic (PBTs): Substances that are resistant to degradation, accumulate in living organisms, and are toxic.
- Very Persistent and Very Bioaccumulative (vPvBs): Substances with extreme persistence and bioaccumulation potential.
- Endocrine Disruptors: Substances that interfere with the body's hormone system.
- Other substances of equivalent concern that are identified on a case-by-case basis.
A SCIP notification is required if an article (or complex object) contains an SVHC from the Candidate List in a concentration above 0.1% weight by weight (w/w).
The Purpose of the SCIP Database
The establishment of the SCIP database, managed by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), serves several key objectives to foster a safer and more circular economy:
- Enhance Transparency: To make information on SVHCs in articles available throughout the entire lifecycle, including at the waste stage.
- Facilitate Safer Waste Treatment: To provide waste operators with critical data, enabling them to sort and treat waste more effectively, prevent hazardous substances from entering recycled materials, and promote detoxification.
- Promote Substitution: By increasing visibility of SVHCs, SCIP encourages companies to replace these substances with safer alternatives.
- Support Circular Economy: It plays a vital role in moving towards a non-toxic circular economy by improving the flow of information on chemicals in products.
- Empower Consumers: To allow consumers to make more informed purchasing choices and learn how to best use and dispose of products containing SVHCs.
Who is Affected by SCIP Notification Requirements?
Economic operators supplying articles in the EU market are obligated to submit SCIP notifications to ECHA. This includes:
| Role | Obligation |
|---|---|
| EU Producers & Assemblers | Must submit SCIP notifications for articles they produce or assemble if they contain SVHCs above 0.1% w/w. |
| EU Importers | Are responsible for submitting SCIP notifications for articles they import into the EU, ensuring compliance for products sourced from outside the EU. |
| EU Distributors & Other Suppliers | Must ensure that SCIP notifications exist for articles they place on the market. They can either submit their own notifications or refer to existing ones from their suppliers. |
| Retailers (supplying only to consumers) | Generally exempt from direct notification to the ECHA SCIP database but are still required to provide available SVHC information to consumers upon request. |
Key Information Required for a SCIP Notification
When submitting a notification, companies must provide comprehensive information to ECHA. This typically includes:
- Article Identification: The name, brand, product category, and other identifiers of the article.
- Safe Use Information: Instructions or recommendations for the safe use of the article, including handling and disposal.
- SVHC Identification: The name of the specific Substance of Very High Concern present.
- Concentration Range: The concentration of the SVHC within the article (e.g., 0.1% - 1%, 1% - 10%, etc.).
- Location of SVHC: Where the SVHC is located within the article (e.g., in the plastic casing, in the solder, etc.).
- Article Category: Categorization of the article based on Combined Nomenclature (CN) codes.
SCIP's Contribution to a Sustainable Future
SCIP represents a significant step towards achieving a safer and more sustainable product lifecycle within the EU. By creating a centralized database of hazardous substances in products, it facilitates better material recovery and recycling processes, ultimately contributing to a more circular economy.
Empowering Consumers and Waste Operators
The data submitted to the SCIP database is publicly accessible through the ECHA website. This transparency empowers:
- Consumers to make informed decisions about the products they buy and how they dispose of them.
- Waste management operators to identify and appropriately treat articles containing SVHCs, preventing the contamination of recycled materials and ensuring safer waste streams.
SCIP is more than just a reporting obligation; it's a strategic tool designed to drive the transition towards a non-toxic environment and foster more sustainable product design and waste management practices across the European Union.
