The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs has published a policy paper setting out the government's new approach to the UK REACH candidate list of substances of very high concern (SVHCs).
When UK REACH came into force, all substances that were on the EU REACH candidate list were carried over onto the UK REACH candidate list.
The UK’s registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals regulation (UK REACH) is part of the chemicals regulatory framework for Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales).
UK REACH identifies SVHCs, including substances with carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic properties, or those that are especially persistent and bioaccumulative in the environment.
From 24 February 2026, the 2021 interim principles that followed the UK’s exit from the EU no longer apply.
The policy paper replaces the previous policy statement on the topic, which was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government.
As set out in Defra’s 2025 Environmental Improvement Plan (commitment 40), the UK is seeking to draw more from regulatory decision-making in other jurisdictions.
The new strategic approach should enable new protections to be applied more quickly, more efficiently, and in a way which is more aligned with the UK’s closest trading partners – especially the EU.
UK REACH is based on the principle that manufacturers, importers and downstream users should ensure that the substances they manufacture, place on the market or use do not adversely affect human health or the environment.
The regulation places responsibility on businesses to:
- understand and manage the risks of chemicals
- communicate appropriate risk management measures along supply chains to customers
The UK REACH candidate list constitutes those substances identified as SVHCs – and serves to flag the potential for further regulatory control in future. Inclusion on the candidate list places some additional communication and notification duties on suppliers of SVHCs on their own, or in mixtures or articles.
Some PFAS, such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), have been associated with adverse effects in animal and human studies at sufficient levels of exposure. This has led to the restricted use of some of these substances in a variety of global markets. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), have been restricted in England and Wales through UK REACH.
A potential UK REACH restriction on PFAS in firefighting foams has been proposed in accordance with the restriction formulation process outlined in UK REACH and is currently subject to consultation. The government is also currently considering the addition of further specific PFAS substances to it.
Substances that have been 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.
This approach aims to provide more certainty for industry, and to reduce business complexity – by ensuring that the UK candidate list is more closely aligned with the EU candidate list.
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