On March 11, 2026, the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) announced the launch of its first public consultation for the inclusion of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) into the candidate list.

What the Year of the Horse can teach businesses about speed, endurance, and discipline in today’s evolving regulatory landscape.

On February 3, 2026, the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has published the PFAS Plan: Building a Safer Future Together. This plan outlines a three-pillar strategy aimed at balancing the societal benefits of these essential industrial chemicals with their potential risks to the environment and public health.

Stakeholders may submit comments by March 27, 2026.

On December 22, 2025, UK released a summary report on the proposal to extend the UK REACH transitional registration deadlines, announcing a comprehensive three-year postponement.

On December 1, 2025, the UK government officially released the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP). Under "Goal 4: Chemicals and Pesticides," the plan explicitly states that measures will be taken to minimize the potential risks of chemicals and pesticides to the environment and public health. These measures include reforming the UK's Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (UK REACH) regulations and strengthening the regulation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

On November 11, 2025, UK government has officially unveiled its Strategic Roadmap for Replacing Animal Testing in Scientific Research, outlining plans to accelerate the phase-out of animal experiments in research and gradually terminate specific tests within six years. Supported by £75 million (approximately ¥690 million RMB), this initiative aims to promote cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and organ-on-a-chip systems as safe alternatives to animal testing.

On November 4, 2025, the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) proposed adding three reproductive toxic substances to the Authorization List (Annex 14) of the UK Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (UK REACH) regulation and initiated a public consultation. This marks the first time the UK has proposed adding substances to the authorization list since its departure from the EU ("Brexit").

The new regulations came into effect on September 23, 2025, with a final compliance deadline of March 23, 2027.

On 14 July 2025, the UK Defra has launched a public consultation on extending the transitional registration deadlines under the UK REACH regime.