▪︎ Restrictions, REACH, SDS
The United Kingdom Adds 15 Substances of Very High Concern to the UK-REACH Candidate List
By adding 15 substances of very high concern (SVHCs) to the UK-REACH Candidate List, the United Kingdom has made its first additions since Brexit, thereby increasing the regulatory requirements for affected companies throughout the supply chain.
First Expansion of the SVHC List Since Brexit
The UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has added all 15 substances and substance groups to the UK REACH Candidate List that had already been proposed for consultation in March 2026. Following a six-week public consultation period, the decision represents the first expansion of the UK’s SVHC list since the country’s departure from the European Union.
Focus on Carcinogenic and Reproductive Toxic Substances
Among the newly added substances are several compounds with carcinogenic properties, including 2,2′,6,6′-tetrabromo-4,4′-isopropylidenediphenol (TBBPA), 2,2-bis(bromomethyl)propane-1,3-diol (BMP), 2,3-dibromo-1-propanol, and N-(hydroxymethyl)acrylamide, which is also classified as a mutagen. However, the majority of the new entries concern substances with reproductive toxicity properties. These include Lysmeral, sodium orthoborate, various organotin compounds, and other chemical substances that have been identified as substances of very high concern based on scientific assessment.
The additions increase the total number of substances on the UK Candidate List to 224. Nevertheless, the United Kingdom still trails the European Union, whose Candidate List currently contains 253 SVHCs.
Alignment with European Chemicals Regulation
The latest expansion may only be the beginning of further regulatory updates. In early 2026, the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) announced that it would review all 44 substances that had been added to the EU Candidate List since Brexit. This suggests that further alignment with the European regulatory framework could be forthcoming.
The inclusion of substances and substance groups on the UK REACH Candidate List as SVHCs triggers new information and communication obligations for suppliers. Companies will be required to provide relevant information regarding the presence of these substances in articles and mixtures to ensure their safe use throughout the supply chain. As a result, the regulation affects not only manufacturers but also importers, distributors, and downstream users.
We provide comprehensive advice on the obligations arising from these developments for distributors, importers, and manufacturers.
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