UK · Amendment

The UK HSE added 15 substances/substance groups to the UK REACH Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs). This is the first substantive update to the UK REACH Candidate List since Brexit, bringing the total number of UK SVHCs to 224.

Substances in Scope

SVHC Update
15 Newly Added SVHCs
TBBPA, BMP/TBNPA/2,3-DBPA group, Lysmeral and Omnirad.

SVHC Update
Additional Substance Groups
DBMC, Tetra-PSCA, Barium diboron tetraoxide and Tetraglyme.

SVHC Update
Additional Listed Substances
Bis(α,α-dimethylbenzyl) peroxide, DOTL and related derivatives, Diphenyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phosphine oxide.

SVHC Update
Remaining Listed Substances
N-(Hydroxymethyl)acrylamide, Orthoboric acid (sodium salts), Reactive Brown 51 and Tris(2-methoxyethoxy)vinylsilane.

The UK HSE added 15 substances/substance groups to the UK REACH Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs). This is the first substantive update to the UK REACH Candidate List since Brexit, bringing the total number of UK SVHCs to 224. Before this update, the UK Candidate List had not been substantively updated since the Brexit transition period ended in 2021. The UK has now begun operating an independent SVHC identification process and added 15 substances that had previously been identified as SVHCs in the EU between 2021 and 2025.

Key Dates & Compliance Timeline

  • Official Publish/Release Date: June 15, 2026
  • Effective Date: 15 June 2026 (date the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) officially added the substances to the UK REACH Candidate List)
  • Public Comment Period: HSE consultation ran from 9 March 2026 to 20 April 2026 prior to adoption.
  • Compliance Deadline: Compliance obligations apply immediately from 15 June 2026.
  • Consumer Information Requirement: Requests regarding SVHC-containing articles must be answered within 45 days.

Regulatory Impact

  • Candidate List inclusion does not create an immediate restriction or ban.
  • Triggers UK REACH communication obligations.
  • Triggers notification obligations.
  • Requires updated safety data sheet (SDS) obligations.
  • Future authorization or restriction measures may follow.

Who Is Affected

  • Manufacturers and importers.
  • Distributors and formulators.
  • Article suppliers and downstream users.
  • Automotive, electronics and electrical equipment industries.
  • Textiles, cosmetics, food contact materials, chemicals, plastics, coatings, adhesives and sealants sectors.
  • Businesses placing articles, substances and mixtures on the Great Britain market.

What Companies Should Do

  • Screen products and BOMs for the 15 new SVHCs.
  • Assess whether concentrations exceed 0.1% w/w.
  • Update supplier declarations and compliance databases.
  • Revise SDSs and supply-chain communication documents.
  • Determine whether HSE notification obligations apply.
  • Monitor future UK SVHC consultations planned for 2026–2027.
Key Takeaway

This high-priority update affects automotive OEMs and suppliers with operations or sales exposure in UK. Compliance and product stewardship teams should review applicability against current BOMs and supply agreements, and note the compliance dates above.

Reference:
UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) – UK REACH Candidate List of SVHCs

 

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