Methods and apparatus for processing of video are described. The processing may include video encoding, decoding or transcoding. One example video processing method includes performing a conversion between a video including a current picture including a current subpicture including a current slice and a bitstream of the video. The bitstream conforms to a format rule that disallows an active entry in a reference picture list of the current slice from including a first picture that precedes in a decoding order a second picture that includes a step-wise temporal sublayer access subpicture in response to conditions associated with at least the first picture and the current subpicture.