What exactly has happened?

On March 11, 2026, the HSE opened a 6-week consultation.

• Scope: 15 potential SVHCs
• Deadline for comments: April 20, 2026
• Objective: Assessment of substance properties and regulatory relevance

During this phase, companies can:

• Submit data
• Assess risks
• Address potential impacts on their products

A classic but strategically important step in the REACH process.

Why is this so relevant?

• Until now, the situation in the UK has been relatively static
• The UK Candidate was aligned with the EU list at the time of Brexit. There were no independent additions.  

This consultation marks the first change in that regard.

UK REACH is beginning to diverge from the EU in regulatory terms.

Which substances are affected?

The first group includes, among others:

• Flame retardants such as TBBPA
• Brominated compounds
• Fragrances such as Lysmeral

Many of these substances are already known—but the key point is that they are now being specifically assessed and prioritized in the UK context.

What does this mean for companies in concrete terms?

This development has direct implications for practice.

1. The UK is becoming a dynamic regulatory environment
   Companies must expect regular updates in the future—similar to the EU.
   
   
2. Dual monitoring becomes mandatory
   • EU REACH alone is no longer sufficient
   • Check the UK Candidate List separately
     
     
3. Early influence is possible
   The consultation phase is a rarely used opportunity:
   
   Companies can actively:
   1. Contribute data
   2. Influence assessments
   3. Address regulatory risks early

A common blind spot in practice

Many companies are currently still operating under the assumption: “The UK is already on board—we’re REACH-compliant, after all.” This assumption is becoming increasingly risky.

• The UK prioritizes substances independently
• Timelines may differ
• Regulatory decisions develop independently

Strategic recommendation

Now is the right time to systematically factor in UK REACH.

• Screening of affected substances in the portfolio
• Comparison with existing EU assessments
• Involvement of Regulatory Affairs in product decisions
• Utilization of consultations for risk management

Conclusion

The consultation on 15 SVHCs is more than a routine process.

It marks the starting point for active, independent chemical regulation in the UK.

Companies that recognize this early on secure:

• Regulatory control
• Planning certainty
• Competitive advantages in the UK market

Would you like to know if your products are affected or how to strategically integrate UK REACH?

We support you with a clearly structured, hands-on approach.