First SVHC Candidate List Update Since Brexit

On February 24, 2026, DEFRA announced a significant policy shift regarding the UK REACH Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern, marking the first substantive update since the UK established its independent chemicals regulatory framework following Brexit. Since the end of the transition period, no additional substances had been added to the UK Candidate List — which until now still reflected only the substances that were on the EU list at the time the UK regime entered into force.
Under the new approach, DEFRA has discontinued the previous interim process and is aligning the UK Candidate List more closely with the EU SVHC list. DEFRA is reviewing all substances added to the EU Candidate List since 2021, and 26 entries have already been added to the UK Registry of Intentions. On March 9, 2026, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) launched the first UK SVHC consultation, covering 15 substances — all holding mandatory CMR (carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic for reproduction) classification under the GB CLP Regulation. The consultation closed on April 20, 2026. The remaining 11 substances will be subject to a separate consultation in June 2026.
The 15 substances under consultation include:
Carcinogenic (Art. 57a): TBBPA, BMP/TBNPA/2,3-DBPA group, Reactive Brown 51
Toxic for reproduction (Art. 57c): Lysmeral, Omnirad, DBMC, Tetra-PSCA, barium diboron tetraoxide, Tetraglyme, bis(α,α-dimethylbenzyl) peroxide, DOTL, diphenyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phosphine oxide, orthoboric acid sodium salt, tris(2-methoxyethoxy)vinylsilane
Carcinogenic and Mutagenic (Art. 57a & 57b): N-(hydroxymethyl)acrylamide
If no comments are received on a substance, it will be automatically added to the Candidate List. Where comments are submitted, HSE will issue a final decision within 45 days of the consultation's close. Companies manufacturing or importing articles containing these substances above 0.1% w/w should review their supply chain exposure ahead of formal listing.
Source: DEFRA — Approach to the UK REACH Candidate List of SVHCs, February 24, 2026 and  HSE Consultation — Citizen Space