Chemical compliance

What’s happening? Here is an update for April 2026:

EU REACH: two new substances on Candidate List
UK REACH: new strategic approach to substances of very high concern
Türkiye: what the latest regulatory developments mean for industry

EU REACH: two new substances on Candidate List

In February 2026, two new substances were added to the EU Candidate List of substances of very high concern (SVHC) for Authorisation:

• N-hexane (CAS number 110-54-3) is hazardous for human health. It is commonly used in formulation, polymer processing, coatings and cleaning agent.
• 4,4′-[2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)ethylidene]diphenol is toxic for reproduction, and is used as process regulator and cross-linking agent.

The list currently contains 253 entries for hazardous chemicals, some of them are groups so the actual number of substances is higher. More details are available here.

What does it mean for companies? 

European producers, importers and suppliers of products containing Candidate List substances must:

• inform their customers of its presence, provide sufficient information on safe use, and notify the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) – under the REACH Regulation
• notify ECHA’s database of substances of concern in products (SCIP), if the articles they produce or import contain SVHCs in a concentration > 0.1% weight by weight – under the Waste Framework Directive, and
• Products containing SVHCs cannot have the ecolabel award – under the Ecolabel Regulation

The substance may be placed on the Authorisation List in the future. If so, its use will be prohibited unless a company obtains authorisation for its use from the European Commission.

UK REACH: new strategic approach to substances of very high concern

Following the UK’s exit from the EU in 2021, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) set out interim principles for adding substances of very high concern to the UK candidate list. However, a recent policy announcement by DEFRA indicates a move towards closer alignment with the EU REACH Candidate List, marking the official retirement of the “Interim Principles”.

The Registry of Intentions (ROI) is the UK’s early warning list to propose a substance for the Candidate List of SVHCs. A substance is first entered here to allow companies an opportunity to comment, it also acts as a signal to industry to initiate substitution planning. The first consultations are currently ongoing.

Once a substance is officially moved from the ROI to the Candidate List, immediate legal obligations are triggered for any company handling them in concentrations above 0.1% w/w:

• Communication: Suppliers must provide safe-use information to customers down the supply chain
• Notification: Producers and importers must notify the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) if their article contains a Candidate List substance in a concentration above 0.1% (w/w) and if the substance is present in quantities totalling over 1 tonne per year

Entry onto the Candidate List is intended as a precursor to the Authorisation List (Annex 14), which would lead to a ban on all non-exempted uses without specific permission (authorisation). It is therefore critical for companies to monitor the early waring lists.

Get more details on staying compliant in the UK and H2 services to support companies in their planning and compliance here.

Türkiye: what the latest regulatory developments mean for industry

The Turkish Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change (MoEUCC) has announced substantial changes to Türkiye’s chemical regulation, the Turkish REACH Regulation (KKDIK). These announcements have significantly reshaped the registration landscape for all companies manufacturing, importing, and placing chemical substances on the Turkish market.

The most impactful changes are:

• The MoEUCC has introduced a new Individual Temporary Registration pathway, allowing companies to register without a Lead Registrant in place
• All companies must now obtain either a full or temporary registration number for the substances they wish to continue placing on the market by 30 September 2026

The updates aim to make the registration process simpler, faster and more efficient while ensuring Türkiye has a national chemical inventory in place as soon as possible.

They impose urgent obligations on companies in Türkiye or those who have appointed an Only Representative (OR). For more details on these changes, go here.