Scan4Chem app is now available in 15 countries
Substances of very high concern (SVHC) may be carcinogenic, toxic to reproduction or particularly problematic for the environment. Consumers have the right to inform themselves about SVHCs contained in consumer products. That is stated in the European Chemicals Regulation REACH. However, every request has to be addressed individually to the product supplier. The LIFE project AskREACH focuses on making this information more easily available to consumers via a smartphone app and a European database in which suppliers can enter their information. Consumers can use this information for their purchase decisions and thus contribute to the substitution of these substances in products.
With the Scan4Chem app you can scan product barcodes and send a request for information to the product supplier with just a few clicks. Suppliers can respond to requests individually or enter their information into the AskREACH database so that it is immediately available to future app users. The success of the app depends on consumer participation: the more requests app users submit, the more suppliers will populate the database with information and the app will improve.
Scan4Chem is available in 15 countries: Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, and Sweden. In most countries the name of the app is Scan4Chem. Exceptions are Denmark (Tjek Kemien), Poland (Pytaj o chemię) and Sweden (Kemikalienappen). PR campaigns are now being intensified in all countries to make consumers aware of their right and the app.
Database for suppliers: As a product supplier you can provide the information about SVHCs in your products to the LIFE AskREACH database through the AskREACH supplier front end. Note that consumers are especially interested to know which products contain less than 0.1% SVHCs!
Have you never heard about your obligation to provide SVHC information? Find out more before you receive the first consumer requests!
Further Information
Right to be informed:
If a product contains SVHCs above 0.1% w/w, information about their presence and on safe handling must be communicated along the entire supply chain. Consumers are entitled to this information from retailers, importers or producers upon request. The right applies to most solid objects used by consumers, including household goods, textiles, shoes, sportswear, furniture, DIY products, electrical & electronic equipment, toys, vehicles, packaging etc. It does not extend to items governed by separate regulations, such as liquid or powdery products (e.g. paints, varnishes, detergents and cleaning agents), medical devices, pharmaceuticals, foods, cosmetics, or animal feed.
„Substances of very high concern“ may be carcinogenic, toxic to reproduction or particularly problematic for the environment. The obligation to provide information applies if such substances are contained in a product at a concentration of more than 0.1 percent by weight. Currently 209 substances have been identified as SVHCs.
Links
Detailed information can be found here:
