UK - Inventory

The UK REACH framework, established post-Brexit, mirrors many aspects of the EU REACH system while, operating as an independent regulatory regime. Managed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), UK REACH governs the regulation of chemicals in Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales). The framework follows the "no data, no market" principle and requires substances to be registered before they can be manufactured, imported, or used in Great Britain. 

Unlike the EU, the UK does not have a UK REACH Inventory analogous to the EC inventory published by ECHA, which includes EINECS, ELINCS, and NLP substances. However, EC numbers and other identifiers from the EC inventory remain relevant under UK REACH. Additionally, there is currently no public dissemination site for UK REACH-registered substances. 

Most substances registered under UK REACH originate from grandfathered registrations, which transferred from EU REACH during the Brexit transition period. These registrations contain minimal data and are not considered full registrations. Other types of registrations include New Registrations of Existing Substances (NRES) and registrations for novel substances (i.e., substances first registered in the UK after Brexit). NRES registrations have the same status as grandfathered registrations, ensuring market access conditions remain consistent. Only registrations for novel substances can be considered entirely new under UK REACH. Given the limited available data, the UK government has deprioritised the development of a public dissemination site. 

The UK government has extended the registration deadlines under UK REACH to give companies more time to meet their obligations. The revised deadlines are staggered according to tonnage and hazard profile: 

1. October 27, 2026: Substances manufactured or imported in quantities of 1,000 tonnes or more per year and substances classified as Carcinogenic, Mutagenic, or Reproductive toxins (CMRs) in quantities of 1 tonne or more per year, and substances classified as very toxic to aquatic life (acute or chronic) in quantities of 100 tonnes or more per year. 

2. October 27, 2028: Substances manufactured or imported in quantities of 100 tonnes or more per year. 

3. October 27, 2030: Substances manufactured or imported in quantities of 1 tonne or more per year. 

Under UK REACH, there are three key publicly available lists of substances: 

• UK REACH Candidate List (Substances of Very High Concern for authorisation) 

• UK REACH Authorisation List (Annex XIV) 

• UK REACH Restrictions List 

UK REACH allows registrants to claim confidentiality for proprietary information such as chemical identities and uses. Claims must be substantiated, and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) evaluates these requests to ensure that transparency and safety are not compromised. The UK REACH framework establishes a robust, independent regulatory system that is closely aligned with the principles of EU REACH.