Defra published its new strategic approach to the UK REACH Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) on 24 February 2026, replacing the interim principles in place since the UK’s exit from the EU in 2021.
The policy signals a significant shift toward closer alignment with EU REACH. Substances added to the EU REACH candidate list since 1 January 2021, and further EU additions, will be reviewed and added to the UK REACH candidate list where appropriate, an approach intended to provide greater certainty for industry and reduce business complexity by keeping the two lists more closely in step.
The move is broadly welcome. SVHCs, including substances with carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic properties, or those especially persistent and bioaccumulative in the environment, pose genuine risks to human health and ecosystems. A UK list that mirrors EU additions removes the anomaly of divergent hazard classifications across closely integrated supply chains and supports substitution of hazardous substances with safer alternatives. Defra’s aim to encourage a move away from particularly hazardous substances where effective alternatives exist reflects responsible stewardship of the framework.
A note of caution is warranted. UK REACH already places considerable demands on industry: registration deadlines, substance evaluations, and an accelerating candidate list combine to create a regulatory landscape that is both complex and costly. For smaller downstream users, many previously exempt from direct obligations under EU REACH, the cumulative weight is especially acute. Unlike their EU counterparts, GB businesses face a standalone registration regime with no reciprocal recognition, meaning duplicated effort and expense for those trading across both markets.
These businesses are not resistant to robust chemical regulation – far from it. But the pace and volume of obligations under UK REACH risk outrunning the capacity of smaller operators to comply meaningfully. Defra and HSE must ensure proportionate guidance, realistic timelines, and genuine support mechanisms are in place, particularly for those furthest down the supply chain, if this framework is to deliver meaningful protection without becoming an undue barrier to doing business in Great Britain.
BASA represents the £1.7 billion UK and Irish adhesives and sealants sector, promoting innovation, compliance, and sustainability while supporting business growth and industry standards. Visit http://www.basa.uk.com
