On 15 June 2026, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the Agency under UK REACH, added 15 entries to the UK REACH Candidate List of substances of very high concern (SVHCs) following a six week consultation process. This marks a significant milestone as the first substantive update to the UK REACH Candidate List since the end of the Brexit implementation period in December 2020.

On 20 May 2026, the UK Government confirmed a significant shift in direction for chemicals regulation, signalling that UK REACH will now align closely with EU REACH, with divergence occurring only in very limited circumstances. This represents one of the most important strategic developments in the post‑Brexit evolution of UK chemicals policy.

On 3 February 2026, the UK Government published its first dedicated strategy for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), titled ‘PFAS Plan: building a safer future together’. This marks a significant milestone in UK chemicals policy. For the first time, the UK Government has set out a long‑term, coordinated framework for understanding, managing and reducing risks from these highly persistent substances, often referred to as ‘forever chemicals’.