UK REACH

March 6, 2026 | Written by GreenSoft Technology, Inc.

United Kingdom Confirms UK REACH SVHC Alignment with EU REACH

UK confirms alignment of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) lists under UK REACH and EU REACH

On February 24, 2026, the United Kingdom’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) published a policy statement confirming their intent to more closely align the UK REACH Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) list with the EU REACH SVHC list.

The UK will now systematically review substances added to the EU Candidate List since January 1, 2021, and going forward, and incorporate them into the UK list where appropriate.

According to DEFRA, “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.”

Under this “New Strategic Approach,” the UK still retains the ability to propose its own potential SVHCs to be included in the UK’s SVHC candidate list.  This policy announcement does not signal an intent to have the UK SVHC list be a mirror the EU’s SVHC list, but rather to harmonize with the EU SVHC list.

For electronics manufacturers - who face some of the most complex and globalized supply chains - this announcement provides welcome clarity on the UK’s intention regarding alignment with UK and EU SVHC lists moving forward. 

Read the full policy statement here.

Post-Brexit background: how we got here

When UK REACH took effect following the UK’s exit from the European Union, all substances on the EU REACH SVHC list at that time were carried over to the new UK list.

Afterward, DEFRA, together with Welsh and Scottish authorities, implemented a set of interim principles in 2021 to guide how new SVHCs would be added under UK REACH. These principles emphasized a more selective process that often resulted in delays compared to the EU’s faster‑moving SVHC updates, which occur twice per year.

In 2025, the UK government initiated a review of those interim principles and engaged stakeholders to shape a new long‑term approach. As of February 24, 2026, those interim principles have been formally withdrawn and replaced by the new alignment strategy.

What the UK REACH and EU REACH SVHC alignment means for electronics manufacturers

Now that the UK has officially confirmed a policy of alignment with the EU SVHC list, most companies can continue to do what they are already doing today – collecting and validating the data they need from their supply chain to ensure compliance with EU REACH Article 33 SVHC communication and SCIP notification requirements. Then, simply utilize that very same data as due diligence for complying with UK REACH SVHC requirements.  (The UK has no SCIP database equivalent.) 

However, because the UK retains the right to add non-EU SVHCs to the UK SVHC list, manufacturers should monitor the UK SVHC list on a regular basis to capture any substances added by the UK which might diverge from the EU list in the future. (Or subscribe to our blog to be notified. GreenSoft customers are automatically kept up to date through our Data Services and GreenData Manager (GDM) software.)

How to maintain compliance with UK REACH SVHC

The EU updates its SVHC list every six months, and while the UK historically lagged behind, the new approach is intended to accelerate updates and reduce divergence.

For electronics manufacturers, every new EU REACH or UK REACH SVHC addition triggers a required reassessment of supplier data. This often means re‑contacting suppliers, updating declarations, and recalculating SVHC concentrations across assemblies and finished products.

GreenSoft Technology helps manufacturers stay ahead of these shifting requirements by managing the entire data collection and compliance workflow.

• Proactive Data Collection: We focus on collecting Full Material Declaration (FMD) data from your suppliers when possible rather than relying on certificates of compliance (CoCs), helping you avoid repeated data collection from suppliers every time new SVHCs are added.
• Substance Analysis and Compliance Reporting: Our GreenData Manager (GDM) software analyzes your parts lists to pinpoint any SVHCs that require reporting, and delivers the compliance documentation needed for your regulatory obligations.
• Ongoing Regulatory Insight: Our team continuously monitors, interprets, and advises on regulatory updates, industry substance list additions, and supply chain restrictions to so you always have a clear understanding of emerging requirements.

Don’t let evolving regulations impact your ability to ship products. Reach out to us today to learn how our Data Services and GreenData Manager (GDM) software can streamline your SVHC management and supplier communications.