Global | EN

Consumer products and retail

Your regular update on technical and industry developments

UK includes 15 SVHCs into REACH Candidate List

June 2026 - Electrical & electronics, hardlines, softlines, toys and children's products

On 15 June 2026, the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) updated the UK REACH Candidate List1 by adding 15 substances. This marks the first update to the UK REACH Candidate List since Brexit and brings the total number of substances of very high concern (SVHCs) on the list to 224.

The update follows a public consultation launched by HSE in March 2026, which proposed the inclusion of these 15 substances. This action is in line with the revised strategic approach to the UK REACH Candidate List2 published in February 2026. Under this approach, the UK reviews substances added to the EU REACH Candidate List and determines whether to include them in the UK list.

Following this review and consultation process, all 15 proposed substances have now been formally included in the UK REACH Candidate List.

 

Table A. SVHCs newly included into the UK REACH Candidate List

Substance name
CAS number (EC number)
Reason for inclusion
Potential application

Bis(2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl)ether (Tetraglyme)

143-24-8
(205-594-7)

Toxic for reproduction (Article 57c)

  • Used as a solvent and as an agent for adsorbing and absorbing gases or liquids;
  • Used in welding and soldering products, inks and toners and lithium-ion batteries.
 

Orthoboric acid, sodium salt

- (-)

Toxic for reproduction (Article 57c)

  • Used as a substitute for other borates in similar applications (e.g. as a corrosion inhibitor).

6,6'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-methylenedi-p-cresol (DBMC)

119-47-1
(204-327-1)

 

Toxic for reproduction (Article 57c)

  • Used as an antioxidant and a stabilising additive that is used in industrial and professional applications that include manufacture of rubber and non-rubber polymers, formulation and/or use of fuels, hydraulic and metal working fluids, adhesives, lubricants, sealants and inks.

Tris(2-methoxyethoxy)vinylsilane

1067-53-4
(213-934)

 

Toxic for reproduction (Article 57c)

  • Used as a crosslinking, binding and coupling agent and surface modifier;
  • Used in the manufacture of rubber and plastic, formulation and use of non-metal surface treatment solutions/dispersions, and in the formulation and use of adhesives and sealants
 

2,2',6,6'-tetrabromo-4,4'-isopropylidenediphenol (TBBPA)

9-94-7
(201-236-9)

 

Carcinogenic (Article 57a)

  • Used as an aromatic brominated flame retardant commonly used in epoxy coated circuit boards, printed circuit boards, paper, and textiles.

Barium diboron tetraoxide

13701-59-2
(237-222-4)

 

Toxic for reproduction (Article 57c)

  • Used in coatings and paints, thinners, paint removes as well as polymer preparations and compounds.

Dioctyltin dilaurate, stannane, dioctyl-, bis(coco acyloxy) derivs., and any other stannane, dioctyl-, bis(fatty acyloxy) derivs. wherein C12 is the predominant carbon number of the fatty acyloxy moiety (DOTL)

- (-)

Toxic for reproduction (Article 57c)

  • Used as a stabiliser and catalyst in the production of plastics and rubber.

2,2-bis(bromomethyl)propane-1,3-diol (BMP); 2,2-dimethylpropan-1-ol, tribromo derivative/3-bromo-2,2-bis(bromomethyl)-1-propanol (TBNPA); 2,3-dibromo-1-propanol (2,3-DBPA) 

- (-)

Carcinogenic (Article 57a)

  • BMP is used as a reactive flame-retardant intermediate in the production of unsaturated polyester (UPE) resins;
  • TBNPA is used as a reactive intermediate for high molecular weight flame retardants and as a reactive flame retardant in CFC-free polyurethanes;
  • 2,3-DBPA is used as an intermediate in the preparation of flame retardants, insecticides and pharmaceuticals; used as an intermediate.
 

2-(4-tert-butylbenzyl)propionaldehyde and its individual stereoisomers (Lysmeral)

- (-)

Toxic for reproduction (Article 57c)

  • Used as a fragrance ingredient and chemical intermediate in a wide range of consumer and professional products, including cleaning agents, air care products, biocides, polishes, waxes, cosmetics, and personal care items.

Diphenyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phosphine oxide

75980-60-8
(278-355-8)

 

Toxic for reproduction (Article 57c)

  • Used as photo-initiator;
  • Used in photo-chemicals, inks and toners, coating products, adhesives and sealants, polymers and fillers, putties, plasters, and modelling clay.
 

2-(dimethylamino)-2-[(4-methylphenyl)methyl]-1-[4-(morpholin-4-yl)phenyl]butan-1-one (Omnirad)

119344-86-4
(438-340-0)

 

Toxic for reproduction (Article 57c)

  • Used as photo-initiator;
  • Used in the formulation and use of coatings and inks/toners.
 

Bis(α,α-dimethylbenzyl) peroxide

80-43-3
(201-279-3)

 

Toxic for reproduction (Article 57c)

  • Used at industrial sites as a processing aid and cross-linker in polymers.

6-[(C10-C13)-alkyl-(branched, unsaturated)-2,5-dioxopyrrolidin-1-yl]hexanoic acid (Tetra-PSCA)

2156592-54-8
(701-118-1)

 

Toxic for reproduction (Article 57c)

  • Used in lubricants, greases, release products and metal working fluids.

Tetra(sodium/potassium) 7-[(E)-{2-acetamido-4-[(E)-(4-{[4-chloro-6-({2-[(4-fluoro-6-{[4-(vinylsulfonyl)phenyl]amino}-1,3,5-triazine-2-yl)amino]propyl}amino)-1,3,5-triazine-2-yl]amino}-5-sulfonato-1-naphthyl)diazenyl]-5-methoxyphenyl}diazenyl]-1,3,6-naphthalenetrisulfonate (Reactive Brown 51)

-
(466-490-7)

 

Toxic for reproduction (Article 57c)

  • Used in textile dyes.

N-(hydroxymethyl)acrylamide

924-42-5
(213-103-2)

 

Carcinogenic (Article 57a), Mutagenic (Article 57b)

  • Used as a monomer for polymerisation (including fluoroalkyl acrylate copolymers) and in paints/coatings.

References:

[1] UK REACH Candidate List

[2] Approach to the UK REACH Candidate List of SVHCs

 


 

How does this impact you and your business?

Contact us to discuss.

TÜV SÜD has dedicated experts to assist you in the development of consumer products and meeting applicable regulations. Through a global network of laboratories, TÜV SÜD offers a wide range of services that includes chemical tests, physical or mechanical tests as well as inspections to ensure the compliance of your products in target markets.

For enquiries, please contact us at [email protected]