News Details

On 10 March 2026, the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE), acting as the Agency for the UK Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (UK REACH) Regulation, opened a six-week consultation on the proposed inclusion of 15 substances of very high concern (SVHCs) on the UK REACH Candidate List.

The consultation marks the first step toward updating the UK Candidate List since the UK established its independent chemicals regulatory framework following Brexit. Since the end of the transition period, no additional substances have been added to the UK REACH Candidate List, which currently reflects the substances that were on the EU Candidate List at the time the UK regime entered into force.

Stakeholders are invited to submit comments and information regarding the identity and hazardous properties of the substances by 20 April 2026.

New strategic approach to the UK Candidate List

The consultation follows the publication of a new strategic approach to the UK REACH Candidate List, released by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) on 24 February 2026. The policy replaces the interim principles that had applied since the UK’s exit from the European Union.

Under the revised approach, the UK government intends to draw more extensively on regulatory assessments and decisions taken in other jurisdictions, particularly the EU. The strategy aims to enable faster regulatory action, reduce business complexity and trade barriers, and provide greater certainty for industry while continuing to protect human health and the environment.

Defra also indicated that identifying SVHCs is intended to encourage the substitution of particularly hazardous substances where safer alternatives are available.

Substances proposed for inclusion

According to HSE, the 15 substances included in the consultation represent the first batch of SVHC proposals under the revised approach. All substances have a mandatory harmonised classification under the GB Classification, Labelling and Packaging (GB CLP) Regulation as carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic for reproduction (CMR).

All of the substances proposed in the consultation have already been identified as substances of very high concern under EU REACH and are included on the EU Candidate List. Key details are summarised in the table below.

Further consultations expected

HSE indicated that additional consultations will follow. The Registry of SVHC Intentions on the HSE website already lists substances expected to be included in a second batch of consultations planned for June 2026