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At the beginning of February, the UK Government announced its first-ever PFAS (Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) Plan, complete with an action plan for expanding the monitoring and reporting requirements related to PFAS (“forever”) chemicals. 

The move isn’t just related to PFAS: this announcement and other changes to chemical storage and COSHH cabinet regulations over the past 12 months highlight increased regulatory scrutiny of chemical risk management programmes in the UK. 

While there’s no move to completely rewrite chemical storage standards in 2026 or in the near future, the changes include stronger reporting requirements, more restrictions, and more work generally for those required to maintain COSHH compliance. 

In the next few paragraphs, we take a broad view of current and upcoming regulatory changes in the UK and the EU, and cover some of the ways we’ve seen chemical storage technology develop to support your business. 

COSHH Cabinet Regulations and Upcoming Compliance Changes (UK & EU)

It is shaping up to be a busy few years for anyone with COSHH requirements. If you aren’t already up-to-date, here are some of these changes already on the books: 

  • End of grace period for substances already on the market subject to the CLP Regulation (Annex 1) 
  • Transitions for EU REACH regulations (for those with operations in the European Union) 

In other news, after a period of consultation, the UK government has moved to actually extend its UK REACH registration deadline from 27 October 2026 to 28 October 2029 to provide breathing room for small businesses. This initial registration applies to all substances on the UK REACH Candidate List before 31 December 2023 (and substances classed as carcinogenic, toxic, mutagenic and imported or manufactured in quantities greater than 1 tonne per annum).  

However, the proposed new deadline shouldn’t encourage you to push any related projects out a few years if it can be helped. The new proposed deadline is subject to input from the Scottish and Welsh ministers and isn’t yet formalised as of February 2026. 

What does all of the above mean for your business? 

Overall, these amendments and proposals signal a stricter approach to the classification, segregation, and storage of chemicals, reinforcing the importance of COSHH cabinet regulations and compliant chemical storage systems in UK workplaces.

These regulatory changes are particularly focused on classification, labelling, and safety data sheet updates. Of course, these updated classifications must then go on to be reflected in chemical risk assessments. So, what looks like a classification and labelling update will naturally require sweeping changes to risk management plans and controls for those businesses operating with the affected chemical inventories. 

Advancements in Technology and Automation 

Advancements in chemical storage technology can provide real support as the regulatory environment demands stricter reporting requirements. Today’s compliant chemical storage solutions provide just that: simple compliance. But as the reporting requirements become stricter, the technology on offer and available to be built into your chemical storage environment can help. 

A few pieces of technology already on the market are well suited for the job: 

  • Improved leak detection: When you need to detect all spills and vapour releases, improved leak detection is essential. Built-in sensors continuously measure everything from VOC detection to door open duration and liquids in spill pallets. They can be customised to trigger an alarm or alert and automate incident logging. 
  • Enhanced segregation: Automated barcoded or RFID-tagged storage containers linked to your chemical inventory system can enforce compatible storage requirements. You can go even further with badge-controlled electronic compartments, which will lock the incorrect compartments and direct the user to the compliant storage section. 
  • Remote monitoring for containment areas: It’s not a particularly new technology, but it is always a useful one and a great place to start. Use sensors to measure temperature, pressure, and other conditions to enhance monitoring data with new alerts. 

These technologies help reduce human error in chemical labelling and segregation. They also provide the records needed to meet audit and reporting requirements, and this will be incredibly important for any business impacted by the PFAS plan. 

For more on this subject, read our broad overview of the technologies shaping chemical storage. 

Industry Trends Shaping the Next Generation of Storage Solutions 

There’s good news: chemical storage is adapting to support the transition that comes with this regulatory environment. As your business becomes more specialised or makes changes to your inventory to meet requirements, modular and adaptable storage can be reconfigured to support you through the process. 

Choosing modular and adaptable storage systems allows you to combine the benefit of custom storage with the lifecycle value you need as the chemical industry endures both up and down swings over the next decade. 

Preparing for Compliance in 2026 and Beyond 

There’s no doubt that the chemical industry can expect greater scrutiny in the UK. While some of this scrutiny will create huge changes for specialised businesses, it will require everyone to rethink compliance with evolving chemical storage requirements and COSHH cabinet regulations.

Even with some reprieve on changes, a proactive approach to current and future chemical storage requirements is the path of least resistance. Reducing your safety and compliance risk today means avoiding sweeping disruption and costs tomorrow. And your chemical storage partners are ready to meet you where you are with a view of the future to build you storage solutions that protect your business, workers, and the environment. 

To learn more about custom or modular chemical storage for your business, contact our team of experts.