UK REACH Candidate List Updated with 15 New SVHC Entries

On 15 June 2026, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) updated the UK REACH Candidate List of substances of very high concern (SVHCs) for authorisation, adding 15 substances/substance groups to the list. HSE had previously published the related SVHC identification proposals on 09 March 2026 and invited interested parties to submit comments during a six-week public consultation, which closed on 20 April 2026.

Following the public consultation and assessment of the information submitted, HSE decided to include the 15 entries on the UK REACH Candidate List. According to the HSE decision document, the newly added entries meet the criteria for identification as SVHCs under Article 57 of UK REACH, mainly due to toxicity for reproduction, carcinogenicity and/or mutagenicity.

In terms of possible uses, the newly added entries may be relevant to flame retardants, photoinitiators, dyes, solvents, crosslinking agents, polyurethane-related catalysts, lubricants and metalworking fluids. Companies in electronics and electrical products, plastics and rubber, textiles and apparel, coatings and inks, fragrance and daily chemical products, and related chemical supply chains should pay close attention to this update.

Overview of the 15 Newly Added SVHC Entries

Note: Some entries correspond to multiple related substances. EC No. and CAS No. information is based on the HSE Candidate List and the Registry of SVHC Intentions Until Outcome. Where no specific number is listed by HSE, the relevant cell is left blank.

Key Points for Businesses

Companies supplying substances, mixtures or articles to the UK market should review raw materials, formulations, components and supply-chain information to determine whether the newly added SVHCs are present. For articles containing an SVHC above 0.1% weight by weight (w/w), suppliers are required to provide recipients with sufficient information to allow safe use of the article; equivalent information must also be supplied to consumers upon request within 45 days.

For relevant substances or mixtures, companies should consider the Candidate List status and the applicable classification under GB CLP when assessing safety data sheet (SDS) provision or update requirements, as well as customer declarations and supply-chain compliance documents. For articles, where the relevant SVHC concentration exceeds 0.1% w/w and the tonnage and other conditions for notification under UK REACH are met, producers, importers or suppliers should further assess whether a notification to HSE is required and whether any exemption may apply.

It should be noted that UK REACH is an independent regulatory regime from EU REACH. Companies exporting to the UK market should not rely only on the EU SVHC Candidate List, but should separately verify the UK REACH Candidate List, their role in the UK supply chain and the placing-on-the-market route of the products concerned.

CTT Reminder

This update shows that SVHC identification and Candidate List expansion under UK REACH continue to progress. Relevant companies are advised to review raw materials, components and supply-chain information, with particular attention to possible use scenarios involving flame-retardant systems, UV-curing systems, dyes and textile finishing auxiliaries, coatings and inks, lubricants and metalworking fluids, and fragrance materials. Testing reports, supplier declarations and customer communication materials should be prepared as needed.

CTT can provide regulatory consulting, product testing, supply-chain risk screening and compliance training services based on UK REACH and related product hazardous-substance control requirements. For more information or testing support, please contact us.