UK REACH proposes nine new SVHCs: what changes for plastics and masterbatch
On 9 July 2026 the UK Health and Safety Executive opened a consultation on adding nine substances (and substance groups) to the UK REACH candidate list of substances of very high concern. Two of them sit close to everyday masterbatch formulations.
By Zoe Lin, Export Manager, E-LUCK (Guangdong Yijuyuan Plastic Industry Technology Co., Ltd.)
The two that matter most for plastics
| Substance | Typical use | Why a masterbatch buyer should care |
|---|---|---|
| Medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCP) | Flame retardant and secondary plasticiser; automotive fluids; PVC and rubber articles, cables | It appears in PVC and cable products — the same end applications where black masterbatch is used. If your compound carries a flame-retardant package, this is the first thing to screen. |
| UV-326 (Bumetrizole) | UV stabiliser in plastics, rubber, resins, coatings, adhesives | UV stabilisation is frequently sold together with black masterbatch for outdoor pipe, film and cable jacket. A stabiliser additive can arrive in the same bag as the carbon. |
The other seven entries cover flame retardants for ABS, HIPS and thermoplastics (BTBPE), high-temperature polymer monomers (BCPS), polymer and coating process chemicals (OAPP), industrial lubricant additives (TPPT and a related reaction mass), PFHpA and its salts, and Bisphenol AF (BPAF) with its salts.
What the obligation actually is
If a substance on the candidate list is present in an article above 0.1% by weight in any homogeneous material, REACH Article 33 requires you to pass safe-use information down the supply chain — as a minimum, the substance name. Consumers asking for that information must receive an answer within 45 days. Article 7 notification can also apply.
Note the unit: homogeneous material, not the finished article. A coating, an adhesive or a plasticiser phase is assessed on its own, which is why small quantities in a formulation can still cross the threshold.
Where the risk actually sits in a masterbatch purchase
- The carbon black is rarely the issue. Mineral-origin carbon black is not classified as dangerous goods and is not a candidate-list substance. The exposure is almost always in the additives carried alongside it — flame retardants, UV stabilisers, plasticisers, processing aids.
- Ask for an additive composition declaration, not just a certificate. A REACH SVHC test report on the masterbatch tells you about the material as tested. It does not tell you whether a specific stabiliser in the formulation is MCCP or UV-326.
- Check the date and the grade on any report. A report issued for one grade in one year does not cover a reformulated grade.
How we handle it
Standard E-LUCK grades carry SGS reports for EU REACH SVHC screening, RoHS and PAHs, with report numbers listed publicly so you can verify them rather than trust an image. Where a buyer needs an additive composition declaration for a specific market, we provide it — the answer for a flame-retardant or UV-stabilised compound can differ by grade, and we would rather say so per grade than issue a blanket statement.
Related
- The SVHC list is at 253 — the EU list this UK track sits alongside
- SGS test reports — REACH SVHC, RoHS and PAHs with report numbers
- EU REACH and RoHS compliance — what applies to which market
- Black masterbatch for cables — jacket, insulation and screen compounds
- Carrier compatibility for PVC and CPVC — why the vinyl family needs its own route