The Blog

The UK Government’s Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) reinforces the central role of UK REACH in delivering stronger environmental and public-health protection, while also setting out clearer expectations for how the regime will evolve in practice. 

Key takeaways for UK REACH stakeholders:

UK REACH reform is a priority: The EIP commits to reforming UK REACH so regulatory action can be taken faster and more efficiently, while maintaining high standards of protection. This includes improving how substances of concern are identified and managed. In practical terms, the government intends to take regulatory decisions made by other trusted jurisdictions as the starting point for UK action, enabling new protections to be applied more quickly and aligning regulation more closely with key trading partners unless there are compelling reasons to diverge. This approach is intended to protect people and the environment while reducing business complexity and trade barriers, and providing industry with greater certainty to invest and grow.

Quicker action on harmful chemicals: The plan signals a shift towards earlier regulatory intervention, particularly for substances with persistent or widespread environmental impacts. This is reflected in commitments to assess and, where appropriate, add substances to Annex XIV of UK REACH (the Authorisation List) by the end of December 2027, and to run the UK REACH authorisation process to ensure that risks from substances of very high concern (SVHCs) are properly controlled and their replacement encouraged.

Alignment with international partners: The government highlights the importance of working with trusted partners (including the EU) to reduce duplication and improve evidence-based decision-making under UK REACH. This alignment agenda is closely linked to the intention to rely more heavily on international regulatory decisions as a baseline, while retaining the ability to diverge where justified.

PFAS and emerging risks: The EIP confirms future UK REACH action on PFAS, with restrictions under consideration as part of a broader, long-term chemicals strategy. Alongside this, the government commits to reviewing the interim principles for adding substances to the UK REACH Candidate List of SVHCs by the end of December 2026, with a view to keeping the list up to date as scientific understanding evolves.

Bottom line:
The Environmental Improvement Plan positions UK REACH as a key delivery mechanism for reducing chemical risks in England — signalling continued regulatory change and the need for businesses to stay engaged and prepared.