UK REACH: New Approach to Candidate List of SVHC

On February 24, 2026, the UK's Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) published a policy paper detailing a new strategic approach to the UK REACH candidate list of substances of very high concern (SVHC). Effective immediately, this new framework replaces the interim principles established in 2021 following the UK's withdrawal from the European Union. The primary objective of the new approach is to align the UK candidate list more closely with the EU REACH candidate list to reduce trade barriers, decrease business complexity, and apply environmental protections more efficiently.