Original document : https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-comply-with-reach-chemical-regulations
Change description : 2020-09-01 15:00:00: Updated to provide businesses more information on what they'll need to do to prepare for the 1 January 2021 [Brexit]
Showing diff : 2019-09-18 09:43:54 +00:00..2020-09-01 14:27:14 +00:00
Guidance
How to comply with the EU's REACH chemical regulations when you're using, making, selling or importing chemicals in the EU, and how to prepare for a1 noJanuary deal Brexit.2021.
The UK has left the EU, and the transition period after Brexit comes to an end this year.
This page tells you what you'll need to do from 1 January 2021. It will be updated if anything changes.
Check what else you need to do during the transition period.
UK upREACH, the UK’s independent chemicals regulatory framework, starts on 1 January 2021. Anyone making, selling or distributing chemicals in the UK and the EU needs to date
The UK REACH will leavemaintain EU REACH’s aims and principles. These include:
The government intends to prepareextend the deadlines for Brexit.submitting Itdata under UK REACH transitional provisions subject to scrutiny by parliament and the devolved administrations. This guidance includes these extension dates rather than those currently provided in UK REACH legislation.
Under UK REACH, manufacturers and importers have a duty to register chemicals that access the UK market. GB-based companies currently registered with EU REACH will no longer be updatedable ifto anythingsell changes,into includingthe ifEEA amarket dealwithout istransferring agreed.
Signtheir upregistrations forto government-widean emailEU/EEA-based alertsorganisation.
Businesses aboutmust Brexit.
Signreview uptheir roles in the EU and UK REACH systems, and their current supply chains. They’ll need to take certain actions to access the EU/EEA and UK markets.
Under the Northern Ireland Protocol, the process for DefraNorthern alertsIreland aboutbusinesses Brexitmoving goods to and from the EnvironmentEuropean sector.Union under EU REACH will not change from 1 January 2021. Further guidance will be published for NI businesses moving goods into the GB market.
IfEU you’reREACH using,registrations making,held sellingby orUK-based importingcompanies chemicalswill incarry across directly into UK REACH, legally ‘grandfathering’ the EU,registrations youinto needthe tonew followregime.
Holders must complete the grandfathering process within 2, 4 or 6 years of Chemicals)28 regulationsOctober 2021, depending on their Tonnage Band Deadlines.
FindThe outinformation UK-based holders need to provide will be the same or very close to what youholders mustpreviously provided. Defra will publish any changes to the information needed in September 2020.
Businesses yourcurrently relying on a registration held by an EU/EEA-based company can continue importing substances as they do now on 1 January 2021. They will need to take subsequent actions to ensure that the chemical substance
YouThese UK downstream users must registernotify yourthe chemicalHSE substanceusing witha theDownstream EuropeanUser ChemicalsImport AgencyNotification (ECHADUIN) -of thistheir bodyintention enforcesto REACHcontinue regulationsimporting insubstances from the EU.EU/EEA by 27 October 2021.
FindA outnew howregistration must then be submitted to registerthe yourHSE substancewithin with2, ECHA4 or 6 years of 28 October 2021.
Alternatively, UK downstream users can encourage their EU/EEA supplier to appoint a UK-based Only Representative (OR.), or change their source to a UK registered supplier.
It’s forpossible to submit DUINs if a nochemical dealis Brexitcovered by a registration held by an EU/EEA-based OR and then sold into the UK.
FindUnder outUK howREACH, todeadlines continuefor the full submission of data to make,underpin sellregistration ordossiers importwill chemicalsbe ifstaggered over a period of 6 years. These deadlines start from 28 October 2021, the UKend leavesof the EUDUIN submission period.
These bands have been set to ensure those chemicals manufactured or imported at high tonnage, and those substances with noparticularly deal.hazardous properties are registered first.
IfThe youtonnage wantbands are:
| Deadline Post 28 October 2021 | Tonnage | Hazardous Property |
|---|---|---|
| 2 years from 28 October 2021 | 1000 tonnes or more per year | ● carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction (CMRs) - 1 tonne or more per year ● Very toxic to ● Candidate list substances (as at 31 December 2020) |
| 4 years from 28 October 2021 | 100 tonnes or more per year | Candidate list substances (as at 27 October 2023) |
| 6 years from 28 October 2021 | 1 tonne or more per year |
As the EU/EEAUK (includingwill Switzerland)be andoperating an independent regulatory system, UK marketsdownstream afterusers awill no deallonger exit,be youable mustto followrely bothon EU REACH andauthorisation decisions addressed to companies in the EU/ EEA from 1 January 2021.
All existing authorisations which have gone through the full authorisation process (and have a review date) will be recognised by UK REACH. rules.This Registermeans forthat new chemicals oncan thecontinue UKto marketbe afterused aby noUK dealcompanies Brexitwho rely on thethese Healthauthorisations. New authorisation applications, and Safetyauthorisations Executivewaiting (HSEfor EU/ECHA) approval, must be submitted to UK REACH.
IfGB-based you’reentities importingcurrently orholding EU REACH registration can continue exporting chemicalssubstances or mixtures to the EU,EU/and youEEA canmarkets viewby journeyeither:
GB-based entities currently holding EU REACH registrations also need a valid UK REACH registration to takemaintain access to the UK market.
The European Chemical Agency (ECHA) explain how to transfer your UK REACH registrations. before 1 January 2021.
Under morethe informationNorthern aboutIreland Protocol, the process for Northern Ireland businesses moving goods to and from the European Union under EU REACH will not change from 1 January 2021.
ReadThe ECHAonline service ‘Comply with UK REACH’ advicewill togo findlive out:on 1 January 2021. Businesses can use the service to:
Businesses will need to coontact the chemicalsHSE to ensure that arethey:
YouEU/EEA canbased alsocompanies getwho informationimport aboutchemicals into the UK under UK REACH frommust theensure HSEthat websitethey -are HSEcovered andby thea Environmentvalid AgencyUK (EAREACH) workregistration.
These togethercompanies tocan enforceregister the substance under UK REACH regulationsthrough ina UK-based OR or an affiliate UK importer.
If the UK.EU/EEA company takes on registration obligations through a UK-based entity, their UK customers will retain their downstream user status.
Updated to provide businesses more information on what they'll need to do to prepare for the 1 January 2021
Added link to the process maps collection
Added information on how to make, sell or import chemicals if the UK leaves the EU with no deal, and how to register on REACH after no deal.
Added link to Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance on chemical regulations and preparing for Brexit. See 'Prepare for Brexit'.
Amended link to registration support page.
First published.
2025-04-01 00:01
Contact details for the UK REACH IT support mailbox have been added.
2023-07-20 12:22
Added that users will need a Defra account to be able to use the Comply with UK REACH service and it can be set up when they first use the service. Added note that you must log in to your Government Gateway account every 3 years to retain access.
2022-06-22 14:04
Have removed previous sections:- Tonnage band deadlines- UK REACH for businesses in Northern Ireland
2022-03-25 10:04
We have removed guidance for grandfathering, downstream users, authorisation and restrictions as this information can be found on the Health and Safety Executive website. Joint registrations, substance groups and data sharing is now in a separate guide on gov.uk.
2020-09-01 15:00
Updated to provide businesses more information on what they'll need to do to prepare for the 1 January 2021
2019-09-18 10:28
Added link to the process maps collection