On February 24, 2026, the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) released the "Approach to the UK REACH Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern" policy document.

The new policy includes the following key changes and highlights:

• Abolition of the "Interim Principles"

As of February 24, 2026, the Interim Principles for the SVHC list, introduced by DEFRA in 2021, will officially expire.

• Closer Alignment with EU Regulations

The UK government has explicitly stated its intention to draw more heavily on regulatory decisions from other jurisdictions. Specifically, for substances added to the EU REACH Candidate List since January 1, 2021 (the official Brexit date), as well as future additions, UK regulators will assess these substances and, where deemed appropriate, incorporate them into the UK REACH Candidate List.

• Preservation of Independent Proposal Rights

Despite emphasizing alignment with the EU, UK REACH retains the ability to identify potential SVHCs based on domestic circumstances. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), as the competent authority for UK REACH, retains the right to propose additional potential SVHCs if certain substances meet the criteria outlined in Article 57 of UK REACH.

• Promotion of Substitution

DEFRA, along with the Scottish and Welsh governments, aims to promote the appropriate substitution of additional SVHC substances. The inclusion of substances in the Candidate List serves as a clear signal to the industry that high-hazard substances should be phased out in favor of low-hazard substitutes where available.

URL：

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/approach-to-the-uk-reach-candidate-list-of-substances-of-very-high-concern/approach-to-the-uk-reach-candidate-list-of-substances-of-very-high-concern

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