UK's first SVHC candidate list update since Brexit: HSE opens consultation on 15 substances

7/4/2026

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched the first public consultation proposing new Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) for inclusion in the UK REACH Candidate List since the country left the European Union. The consultation marks the first step toward updating the UK Candidate List since the UK established its independent chemicals regulatory framework following Brexit. Since the end of the transition period, no additional substances have been added to the UK REACH Candidate List, which currently reflects the substances that were on the EU Candidate List at the time the UK regime entered into force.

When the UK left the EU and UK REACH came into force on 1 January 2021, the UK REACH Candidate List mirrored the EU REACH Candidate List. Since then, the EU has added 42 substances, while the UK has not made any additions, creating uncertainty about how the UK would develop its own regulatory pathway

That five-year gap is now coming to an end. On 11 March 2026, the UK Health and Safety Executive launched its first public consultation on adding SVHCs to the UK REACH Candidate List since Brexit, covering 15 proposed substances. Companies have until 20 April 2026 to submit comments or supporting information.

All 15 substances included in this first consultation already have mandatory harmonized classifications under GB CLP, particularly for CIRS Group properties such as carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, reproductive toxicity (CMR), or persistence and bioaccumulation. This hazard basis is consistent with Article 57 of UK REACH, which defines the criteria by which a substance may be identified as an SVHC — covering CMR category 1A or 1B substances, persistent/bioaccumulative/toxic (PBT) substances, very persistent/very bioaccumulative (vPvB) substances, and substances of equivalent level of concern such as endocrine disruptors.

The full list of proposed substances include :