UK REACH SVHC Candidate List Alignment with EU
Summary
The UK government has announced a new strategic approach to adding Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) to the UK REACH Candidate List, aligning more closely with the EU's approach. This involves a consultation on adding 15 SVHCs, with further additions expected.
What changed
The UK government has transitioned from interim principles for adding Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) to the UK REACH Candidate List to a new strategic approach, effective February 24, 2026. This new strategy aims to align the UK list more closely with the EU's REACH Candidate List by reviewing substances added to the EU list since January 1, 2021. This change is intended to provide greater predictability for businesses operating in both markets and accelerate the protection of human health and the environment.
As part of this new strategy, the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has initiated a six-week consultation on the proposed inclusion of 15 SVHCs on the UK REACH Candidate List. Businesses that manufacture or import chemicals into the UK should review their product portfolios for potential impacts, as inclusion on the Candidate List triggers obligations. A further consultation is anticipated in June 2026. While alignment with the EU is a primary goal, the HSE retains the authority to propose SVHCs specific to the UK.
What to do next
- Review product portfolios for potential impacts from the proposed 15 SVHCs.
- Monitor the UK REACH Candidate List for substances that may diverge from the EU list.
- Prepare for potential obligations triggered by inclusion on the Candidate List.
Source document (simplified)
March 24, 2026
UK REACH SVHC Candidate List to Become Closer Aligned with EU Candidate List
Max L. Moseley, MSc, Christine Palermo Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. + Follow Contact LinkedIn Facebook X Send Embed
As of February 24, 2026, the United Kingdom (UK) government has announced that the interim approaches to adding Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) to the UK Candidate List no longer apply and have been replaced with a new strategic approach.
Following the UK’s exit from the European Union (EU), the 2021 interim principles facilitated a case-by-case review process for adding substances to the UK Candidate List, incorporating Regulatory Management Options Analyses (RMOA), and consideration of whether substances were a good candidate for the subsequent Authorisation List. Commentators have noted that these principles resulted in less frequent updates to the UK Candidate List, in comparison to the EU’s own version, which is routinely updated twice annually.
The new strategic approach, as set out in Commitment 40 of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affair’s (Defra) 2025 Environmental Improvement Plan, seeks to draw more from regulatory decision-making in other jurisdictions, particularly the EU. Substances that have been added to the EU Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Candidate List since January 1, 2021, and further EU additions, will be reviewed and added to the UK REACH Candidate List where appropriate. This change is expected to enable more predictable alignment between the EU and UK Candidate Lists, offer greater assurance for industry operating in both markets and result in faster protection for human health and the environment by accelerating UK candidate listing.
As a first step down this new strategic path, the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has recently opened a six-week consultation on the proposed inclusion of 15 SVHCs on the UK REACH Candidate list. An additional consultation is planned for June 2026. Inclusion on the Candidate List triggers obligations, so businesses may wish to review their product portfolios now for potential impacts. The list of substances can be found on the UK Registry of SVHC Intentions.
UK manufacturers and importers should note that the UK’s ability to act independently will not be lost, however, as the HSE retains the authority to propose further potential SVHC’s specific to the UK, where necessary. Businesses should therefore continue to monitor the UK SVHC list for entries that diverge from the EU list.
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DISCLAIMER: Because of the generality of this update, the information provided herein may not be applicable in all situations and should not be acted upon without specific legal advice based on particular situations.
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