On February 24, 2026, the UK’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) confirmed a new strategic approach under UK REACH: the UK will more closely align its Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) Candidate List with the EU REACH Candidate List. This includes systematically reviewing substances added to the EU list since January 1, 2021, as well as future additions, with the aim of incorporating them into the UK list where appropriate.
This is an important development for manufacturers, importers, and downstream users placing products on both the EU and UK markets. Since Brexit, companies have had to manage the risk of divergence between the two systems. In 2025, the UK government reviewed its interim approach, and with the new policy statement issued on February 24, 2026, those interim principles have now been formally withdrawn and replaced by this new alignment strategy. The result is greater clarity and a stronger basis for relying on one consistent data foundation across both jurisdictions.
Key points at a glance:
For most companies, this means that the substance data already being collected for EU REACH Article 33 can also support UK REACH due diligence. However, the UK has not committed to fully mirroring the EU list and still retains the right to add its own SVHCs independently. Businesses should therefore continue monitoring the UK Candidate List for any future divergence.
At 1cc GmbH, we view this as a positive and pragmatic step. Closer alignment helps reduce regulatory complexity, but effective compliance still depends on reliable supply chain data and continuous monitoring of regulatory change. Companies with structured material compliance processes will be best positioned to respond efficiently to future SVHC updates.
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At 1cc GmbH, we closely track regulatory developments to help companies manage compliance obligations efficiently — from REACH and RoHS to SCIP and beyond. Our experts support you in keeping your products, supply chains, and reporting processes aligned with current EU sustainability and chemical safety requirements.
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