Rationale for prioritising substances in the UK REACH work programme: 2025 to 2026
Published 31 July 2025
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Introduction
The UK’s registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals (UK REACH) regulations are part of the chemicals regulatory framework for Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). A key aim of UK REACH is to provide a high level of protection of human health and the environment from the use of chemicals.
The UK REACH work programme covers a range of activities and sets out how the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), with the support of the Environment Agency, will deliver its regulatory activities in the financial year 2025 to 2026. HSE is the regulatory agency for UK REACH.
The work programme includes restrictions and time-limited authorisations of substances (subject to specific conditions) which are important risk management tools under UK REACH. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Scottish and Welsh Governments are the appropriate authorities for UK REACH. We (the appropriate authorities) have worked with HSE and the Environment Agency to identify priorities for the UK REACH work programme in financial year 2025 to 2026 This document explains Defra and the Scottish and Welsh Governments’ agreed overall policy priorities for UK REACH in financial year 2025 to 2026.
Strategic approach
As set out in the UK government’s ‘new approach to ensure regulators and regulation support growth’ action plan we are seeking to draw more from regulatory decision-making in other jurisdictions. This should enable new protections to be applied more quickly, more efficiently, and in a way which is more aligned with our closest trading partners. In doing so we can reduce business complexity and trade barriers and provide industry with the certainty they need to grow and invest, whilst continuing to protect people and the environment in the right way.
Priorities for the financial year 2025 to 2026 UK REACH work programme
1. Restrictions
In the financial year 2025 to 2026, HSE will consult on proposals to develop a UK REACH restriction on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in fire-fighting foams.
The ‘new approach to ensure regulators and regulation support growth’ set out an action plan to tackle the complexity and the burden of regulation, reduce uncertainty across the regulatory system, and challenge and shift excessive risk aversion in the system. In line with this objective and where appropriate for the UK, the work programme will seek to avoid duplication of relevant regulatory work carried out by other jurisdictions. We will aim to establish a stable, predictable and consistent approach to chemicals regulation, more aligned with our closest trading partners. Whilst the financial year 2025 to 2026 work programme does not initiate any new restriction workstreams, the appropriate authorities, HSE and the Environment Agency continue to monitor and identify emerging chemical risks to ensure they are addressed.
2. Authorisation
The primary objective of authorisation is to control the risks from substances of very high concern (SVHCs) on the Authorisation List (Annex 14) whilst driving the substitution of these substances where this is technically and economically feasible. This work programme will see the continuation of the reviewing and granting of specific authorisations where appropriate, ensuring that the substitution efforts of industry are reflected in the review periods granted. Since 2021, the appropriate authorities have considered and completed over 50 applications, usually ahead of statutory deadline.
3. Additions to the Candidate List and Authorisation List
The appropriate authorities will undertake a review of the interim principles for additions to the Candidate List published under the previous UK government. Depending on the outcome of this review, we will consider our approach to additions made to the EU REACH candidate list since 1 January 2021.
This year, HSE is due to make a recommendation for SVHCs from the candidate list to be added to Annex 14, as per its statutory obligation to do so at least every 2 years. In making a decision on adding substances to Annex 14, the appropriate authorities will consider the criteria set out in the UK REACH Regulations, alongside a range of relevant factors including those identified in the ‘new approach to ensure regulators and regulation support growth’ action plan. In taking forward this strategic approach, the appropriate authorities will consider drawing from the regulatory decisions that the EU has made in this area (where appropriate).