On 1 January 2021 UK REACH, the UK’s independent chemicals regulatory framework, came into force. The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has published guidance to help UK companies achieve compliance with REACH chemical regulations.
Manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors of hazardous chemicals in the UK must comply with UK REACH, which upholds the principles and objectives of EU REACH. Companies that manufacture and import hazardous chemicals to the UK have registration obligations.
Great Britain (GB)-based companies that are registered under EU REACH will need to transfer their registrations to an EU or European Economic Area (EEA) organization or they will not be permitted sell hazardous products in the EU/EEA. The process for moving goods from Northern Ireland (NI) to and from the EU will not change from 1 January 2021. Additional guidance is expected to be published for NI businesses moving goods to the UK.
EU REACH registrations held by UK companies will be ‘grandfathered’ into the new UK REACH regime. To advance this process, UK-based holders of EU REACH registrations must provide basic information to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) by 30 April 2021. The submission of data for registration dossiers must be completed within 2, 4, or 6 years of 28 October 2021, depending on the tonnage bands. The required information will be the same or similar to what was previously provided under EU REACH.
UK companies that import chemicals from the EU/EEA and do not have an EU REACH registration must ensure the substances they purchase are covered by a valid UK REACH registration. Businesses currently relying on a registration held by an EU/EEA-based company can continue importing substances into next year, and they will need to notify the HSE of their intention to continue importing substances from the EU/EEA by 27 October 2021. A new registration will need to be submitted to the HSE within 2, 4, or 6 years of 28 October 2021, depending on the tonnage bands.
From 1 January 2021, UK downstream users will no longer be able to rely on EU REACH authorization decisions for EU/EEA organizations. All existing authorizations that have gone through the full authorization process will be recognized by UK REACH, but new applications and those waiting for EU approval must be submitted to UK REACH.
GB-based entities will need to transfer their registrations to an EU/EEA-based entity or support their EU/EEA-based importers to become registrants. The process for moving goods from Northern Ireland (NI) to and from the EU will not change from 1 January 2021
For more information about legislation or to discuss your labelling requirements then please feel free to contact us at labelservice.co.uk
.
