Policy Monitoring Report | June 24, 2026 – UK REACH First Update & Microplastics Amendment

Policy Monitoring Report | June 24, 2026

Major Regulatory Updates Alert

1. UK REACH First Substantial Update: 15 SVHCs Added to Candidate List

Publication Date: June 15, 2026
Authority: Health and Safety Executive (HSE), UK
Risk Level: High

Key Change: The UK has made its first substantial update to the UK REACH candidate list since the Brexit transition period ended in 2021, adding 15 substances of very high concern (SVHCs). This marks the official separation of the UK chemical regulatory system from the EU ECHA, operating independently.

Affected Industries: Electrical and electronic equipment, plastics and rubber products, textiles and apparel, coatings and inks, fragrances, solvents, food contact materials, cosmetics.

Legal Obligations for Companies: Substance in articles notification (SCIP format), supply chain information communication, safety data sheet transmission when SVHC content exceeds 0.1%.

Action Recommendations:

1. Immediately conduct supply chain material investigation to confirm the use of 15 newly added SVHCs
2. Perform SVHC screening tests for products exported to the UK market
3. Update REACH compliance declarations and technical documentation
4. Establish a dual-track compliance system for both UK REACH and EU REACH

2. EU REACH Microplastics Restriction Amendment: Major Changes to Exemption Rules

Publication Date: June 2, 2026
Regulation Number: (EU) 2026/1168
Risk Level: Medium-High

Key Changes:

1. Expanded Medicinal Product Exemption: Now explicitly covers all human and veterinary medicinal products, including those for clinical trials and pre-clinical safety testing, retroactively applicable from October 17, 2023.

2. New R&D Exemption (PPORD): Microplastics with annual usage of 1 ton or less are exempt, applicable to R&D activities in non-industrial settings such as hospitals and universities.

3. Tightened “Solid Matrix Embedded” Exemption: Only applicable for intended end-use of 1 year or longer. Short-term use products no longer qualify. Effective date: June 22, 2028.

Affected Industries: Pharmaceutical companies (favorable), R&D institutions (favorable), electronic packaging materials (assessment needed), construction coatings (assessment needed), composite materials (assessment needed).

Action Recommendations:

1. Pharmaceutical and R&D companies: Confirm exemption applicability to reduce compliance costs
2. Electronic packaging, construction, and coating companies: Assess whether product usage cycle is 1 year or longer
3. Short-term use product companies: Complete formulation substitution by June 22, 2028
4. Update product technical files and compliance declarations

Baseline Status

Next Monitoring Focus

• ECHA 2026 second batch SVHC update (expected December)
• Detailed list and technical parameters of newly added UK REACH SVHCs
• EU DPP Digital Product Passport mandatory implementation progress

This report is automatically generated by Market Intelligence Officer for compliance reference only. Specific regulatory implementation should be based on official documents.