UK REACH

October 26, 2026 | Written by GreenSoft Technology, Inc.

UK REACH Adds 9 New SVHCs to the Candidate List, Further Aligning with EU REACH

UK REACH Adds 9 New SVHCs: What Manufacturers Need to Know

On 19 October 2026, the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) added 9 new Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) to the UK REACH Candidate List. This update is now legally in force and affects manufacturers, importers, and suppliers operating in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). Separate regulatory considerations may apply in Northern Ireland.

Executive Summary

The October 2026 UK REACH update adds nine new SVHCs to the Candidate List, continuing the UK's effort to align more closely with the EU REACH Candidate List. Companies that manufacture, import, supply, or place articles containing these substances on the Great Britain market may have communication, Safety Data Sheet (SDS), and notification obligations under UK REACH.

This announcement follows the UK government's previously stated intention to increase alignment between the UK REACH and EU REACH SVHC Candidate Lists and comes after the July 2026 addition of 15 SVHCs.

Why the UK REACH October 2026 Update Matters

The UK REACH Candidate List serves as a key regulatory mechanism for identifying Substances of Very High Concern. Inclusion on the Candidate List can trigger legal obligations for manufacturers, importers, distributors, and suppliers, particularly when substances are present in articles, mixtures, or substances supplied within Great Britain.

For electronics manufacturers and supply chain compliance teams, staying current with SVHC additions is essential for maintaining accurate material declarations, evaluating supplier data, and meeting customer compliance requirements.

Which Substances Were Added to the UK REACH Candidate List?

The newly added substances span several functional categories used across electronics, industrial manufacturing, polymers, lubricants, flame retardants, fluoropolymers, UV stabilizers, and specialty materials.

The 9 newly added UK REACH SVHCs:

What Are the UK REACH Compliance Obligations?

Although the UK Candidate List is becoming increasingly aligned with the EU Candidate List, UK REACH maintains its own notification processes, deadlines, and enforcement framework. Companies should not assume that UK obligations are identical to EU requirements.

1. Duty to Communicate SVHC Information in Articles

Suppliers of articles containing a UK REACH Candidate List SVHC above 0.1% weight by weight (w/w) must provide recipients with sufficient information to allow safe use of the article. Consumers also have the right to request this information, and suppliers must respond within 45 days.

2. Duty to notify HSE

UK producers and importers of articles may be required to notify HSE when both of the following conditions are met:

• The SVHC is present in the article above 0.1% (w/w).
• The total quantity of the substance exceeds one tonne per producer or importer per year.

The notification must be submitted within six months from the date the substance is included on the list. This requirement is similar in concept to EU REACH Article 7(2), but distinct from the SCIP Database, which does not exist under UK REACH.

3. Duty to communicate information on mixtures containing SHVCs

Suppliers of mixtures which contain substances on the UK REACH Candidate List must provide customers with current Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) containing up-to-date hazard and handling information.

UK REACH vs. EU REACH: What Has Changed?

The October 2026 update represents another step in the UK's effort to align its SVHC Candidate List with the EU REACH Candidate List. However, important distinctions remain.

For example:

• UK REACH maintains separate regulatory administration and notification processes.
• UK-specific monitoring remains necessary for compliance programs.
• The SCIP Database requirement that exists under the EU framework does not exist under UK REACH.

Organizations operating internationally should continue monitoring both regulatory systems to ensure ongoing compliance.

What does this mean for electronics manufacturers?

Electronics manufacturers often manage thousands of parts and components across complex global supply chains. Continued alignment between UK REACH and EU REACH can help simplify compliance activities while reducing duplicate effort.

Potential benefits include:

• Leveraging existing EU REACH SVHC compliance data during UK REACH assessments
• Reducing duplicate supplier outreach activities
• Avoiding separate UK-specific data collection efforts for these nine newly added substances
• Improving consistency across global compliance programs

Despite increased alignment, manufacturers should continue monitoring UK-specific regulatory developments and maintaining up-to-date supplier declarations.

Compliance Action Checklist

Following the October 2026 UK REACH Candidate List update, manufacturers should consider:

✅ Reviewing parts, materials, and finished products for the newly listed SVHCs

✅ Assessing concentrations against the 0.1% threshold

✅ Determining whether HSE notification requirements apply

✅ Updating supplier communication processes

✅ Reviewing Safety Data Sheets where applicable

✅ Evaluating existing EU REACH compliance information for UK REACH applicability

✅ Monitoring future UK REACH Candidate List additions

How GreenSoft can help

Every new SVHC addition creates additional supplier communication, data management, and compliance review requirements. GreenSoft supports manufacturers by collecting Full Material Declaration (FMD) data, validating supplier declarations, and analyzing parts and assemblies to identify SVHCs across both EU and UK regulatory frameworks.

GreenSoft's Data Services and GreenData Manager (GDM) help organizations:

• Collect and validate supply chain compliance data
• Improve supplier data quality and visibility
• Identify SVHCs across assemblies and finished products
• Generate compliance documentation, including SCIP dossiers
• Monitor regulatory updates and notify users of regulatory changes

If your team needs support managing the October 2026 UK REACH update or preparing for future EU and UK SVHC additions, GreenSoft can help streamline environmental compliance data collection, supplier engagement, and regulatory monitoring.