Guidance

ComplyHow withto UKcomply REACH:with submitREACH and manage chemical registrations and notificationsregulations

UseHow theto servicecomply towith submitthe andEU's manageREACH chemical registrationsregulations when using, making, selling or importing chemicals in the EU, and notifications.how to prepare for 1 January 2021.

Published 23 September 2015

Last updated 1 September 2020
— see all updates
From:
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Published
23 September 2015
Last updated
25 March 2022 — See all updates

New rules for January 2021

The emailsUK abouthas 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.

IfUK you’reREACH, basedthe UK’s independent chemicals regulatory framework, starts on 1 January 2021. Anyone making, selling or distributing chemicals in Greatthe BritainUK (England,and Scotlandthe EU needs to follow UK REACH and Wales)EU useREACH thisrules.

UK serviceREACH to:will maintain EU REACH’s aims and principles. These include:

  • submitthe a“no newdata, registrationno formarket” aprinciple
  • the substance“last resort” principle on animal testing
  • notifyaccess thatto you’reinformation goingfor workers
  • the precautionary principle

The government intends to continueextend importingthe EUdeadlines for submitting data under UK REACH registeredtransitional substancesprovisions subject to scrutiny by submittingparliament and the devolved administrations. This guidance includes these extension dates rather than those currently provided in UK REACH legislation.

UK REACH for business

Under UK REACH, manufacturers and importers have a Downstreamduty Userto Importregister Notificationchemicals (DUINthat access the UK market. GB-based companies currently registered with EU REACH)

  • transfer yourwill assets,no suchlonger asbe registrations,able to anothersell legalinto entity
  • submitthe yourEEA Northernmarket Irelandwithout notification
  • managetransferring jointtheir registrations -to claiman EU/EEA-based organisation.

    Businesses must review their roles in the leadEU registrantand role,UK submitREACH asystems, leadand dossiertheir current supply chains. They’ll need to take certain actions to access the EU/EEA and approveUK jointmarkets.

    Under registrationthe groupNorthern members

  • manageIreland yourProtocol, Productthe process for Northern Ireland businesses moving goods to and Processfrom Orientatedthe ResearchEuropean 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.

    UK held registrations: ‘grandfathering’

    EU REACH registrations held by UK-based companies will carry across directly into UK REACH, legally ‘grandfathering’ the registrations into the new regime.

    UK-based holders of existing EU REACH registrations may continue the ‘grandfathering’ process by providing basic information to the Health and DevelopmentSafety (PPORD)Executive notification

    • (HSE) by 30 April 2021.

    Holders Startmust complete nowthe grandfathering process within 2, 4 or 6 years of 28 October 2021, depending on their Tonnage Band Deadlines.

    Before

    The youinformation startUK-based holders need to provide will be the same or very close to what holders previously provided. Defra will publish any changes to the information needed in September 2020.

    EU held registrations: UK downstream Users

    CreateUK adownstream Governmentusers Gateway(who accountdo tonot signhold intoan EU REACH registration) currently importing chemicals from an EU/EEA country need to ensure the service.substances they purchase are covered by a valid UK REACH registration.

    FindBusinesses outcurrently howrelying toon createa registration held by an organisationEU/EEA-based accountcompany can continue importing substances as they do now on 1 January 2021. They will need to take subsequent actions to ensure that the Complychemical withis registered for UK REACH service.purposes.

    MakeThese sureUK yourdownstream substanceusers informationmust isnotify in the correctHSE formatusing asa i6zDownstream dossierUser files.Import YouNotification can(DUIN) useof IUCLIDtheir 6intention (orto later)continue toimporting createsubstances from the files.EU/EEA by 27 October 2021.

    ReadA new registration must then be submitted to the HSE within 2, 4 or 6 years of 28 October 2021. Alternatively, UK REACHdownstream guidanceusers oncan the Healthencourage their EU/EEA supplier to appoint a UK-based Only Representative (OR), or change their source to a UK registered supplier.

    It’s possible to submit DUINs if a chemical is covered by a registration held by an EU/EEA-based OR and Safetythen Executivesold (HSE)into website.the UK.

    Tonnage band deadlines

    Under UK REACH, deadlines for the full submission of data to underpin registration dossiers arewill be staggered over a period of 6 years. FindThese outdeadlines aboutstart tonnagefrom band28 deadlinesOctober and2021, hazardthe profilesend onof the HSEDUIN website.submission period.

    UK

    These REACHbands forhave businessesbeen inset Northernto Ireland

    Importersensure basedthose inchemicals Greatmanufactured Britainor needimported toat submithigh informationtonnage, aboutand thethose substances theywith importparticularly hazardous properties are registered first.

    The tonnage bands are:

    Deadline Post 28 October 2021TonnageHazardous Property
    2 years from Northern28 IrelandOctober to20211000 Greattonnes Britainor inmore quantitiesper ofyear● carcinogenic, onemutagenic or toxic for reproduction (CMRs) - 1 tonne or more onper theyear Comply

    ● Very withtoxic UKto REACHaquatic service.

    Findorganisms out(acute aboutor thechronic) information- requirements100 fortonnes Northernor Irelandmore notificationsper onyear the

    ● Candidate HSElist website    .

    Getsubstances help

    For(as helpat using31 theDecember Comply2020)

    4 withyears UKfrom REACH28 serviceOctober call2021100 thetonnes UKor Chemicalsmore helpline.

    per year
    		Candidate list substances (as at 27 October 2023)
    6 years from 28 October 20211 tonne or more per year 

    Authorisations

    As the UK Chemicalswill helpline
    Telephone:be 0330operating 159an 1985
    Openingindependent hours:regulatory Mondaysystem, UK downstream users will no longer be able to Friday,rely 9amon EU REACH authorisation decisions addressed to 5pmcompanies (exceptin publicthe holidays)EU/ EEA from 1 January 2021.

    Published

    All 23existing Septemberauthorisations 2015
    Lastwhich updatedhave 25gone Marchthrough 2022 + showthe allfull updates

    1. We(and have removeda guidancereview fordate) grandfathering,will downstreambe users,recognised authorisationby UK andREACH. restrictionsThis asmeans thisthat informationchemicals can continue to be foundused onby theUK Healthcompanies andwho Safetyrely Executiveon website.these Jointauthorisations. registrations,New substanceauthorisation groupsapplications, and dataauthorisations sharingwaiting isfor nowEU/ECHA inapproval, must abe separatesubmitted guideto onUK gov.uk.REACH.

    3. Informationeither:

      • transferring ontheir DUINregistrations added to ‘EUan heldEU/EEA-based registrations:entity
      • supporting GBtheir downstreamEU/EEA-based users’importers section.

        to become registrants

      GB-based Julyentities 2021

      Updatedcurrently theholding ManageEU yourREACH chemicalsregistrations onalso need a valid UK REACH section.

    4. Youmaintain canaccess nowto use the ComplyUK withmarket.

      The REACHEuropean serviceChemical Agency (ECHA) explain how to managetransfer jointyour registrations,UK includingREACH claimingregistrations thebefore lead1 registrantJanuary role.2021.

    6. AddedREACH theregistration.

      These startcompanies buttoncan forregister the Complysubstance withunder UK REACH service.through a UK-based OR or an affiliate UK importer.

    Published links23 toSeptember complete2015

    Last guidanceupdated on1 theSeptember HSE.

    2020 + show all updates

    1. Updated to provide businesses more information on what they'll need to do to prepare for the 1 January 2021

    2. Added link to the process maps collection

    3. 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.

    4. Added link to Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance on chemical regulations and preparing for Brexit. See 'Prepare for Brexit'.

    5. Amended link to registration support page.

    6. First published.

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