United Kingdom introduces its own chemicals legislation – UK REACH
27 October – the cut-off date for chemicals trading with the UK
Now that the United Kingdom has left the EU and the transition period is over, EU Regulation No. 1907/2006 (REACH) is now no longer valid in the UK. As of 1 January 2021, the country has been regulating chemicals according to its own version of the REACH legislation. Companies now have around two months before the next key deadline, say DEKRA’s chemicals experts.
Upon the completion of Brexit, the UK’s own version of the REACH legislation came into effect and registrations completed under the EU-REACH regulation lost their validity in the country. When their transition periods expire, British companies will need to submit full UK REACH registrations. EU exporters will need to appoint an Only Representative for the UK in order to operate in the British market.
UK REACH is being introduced in several stages. In 2021, owners of registrations and businesses that were previously covered by their suppliers’ REACH registrations will need to submit a first-time notification to HSE, the British Health and Safety Executive. This will enable them to benefit from a transition period of between two and six years, depending on the annual tonnage and hazard profile of the substance in question. Once this transition period expires, they will need to submit a full registration dossier.
By 27 October 2021, businesses that have thus far been purchasing substances and mixtures from EU registrants or whose imports have been covered by EU Only Representatives in accordance with Art. 8 of REACH will need to submit a Downstream User Import Notification (DUIN). To do this, you will also need to set up an account for the UK’s new “Comply With REACH” system and perform a one-time notification of all your existing deliveries.
Alternatively, EU suppliers can appoint a British Only Representative to carry out the DUIN and register the substance in question. This will allow them to avoid having to disclose the recipe of the mixture in question.
DEKRA has been helping companies to handle the various obligations relating to chemicals legislation for more than thirty years. For over ten years, DEKRA has been acting as an Only Representative for businesses in many parts of the world and has been a member of ORO, the Association of Only Representatives. DEKRA’s English branch also qualifies as an Only Representative under UK REACH.
Specialist contact and inquiries:
Jochen Dettke
Tel. +49 711 7861-2703
jochen.dettke@dekra.com
Jochen Dettke
Tel. +49 711 7861-2703
jochen.dettke@dekra.com