UK REACH has entered into force

Following the end of the Brexit transition period on 1st January 2021, the UK REACH Regulation is now in force. UK REACH, which has been described as mirroring its EU counterpart, applies instead of EU REACH in respect of Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland.) The main consequence is that EU REACH registrations issued by ECHA will no longer be valid in the UK. In order to be placed on the GB market, a substance will thus need to be registered under UK REACH.

With the aim of assisting the many exporters likely to be affected by the repeal of EU REACH in the Great Britain, UK REACH provides for comprehensive transitional arrangements. Such arrangements concern both EU and non-EU based exporters dealing with substances already registered under EU REACH and wishing to maintain access to the UK.

UK REACH may apply to you if your business falls under one of these two situations: 

You are a non-GB-based manufacturer exporting chemical substances registered under EU REACH to the UK, and who wishes to maintain access to the GB market. You can: 

• Let your GB-based downstream user/distributor/formulator file a Downstream User Import Notification (DUIN) by 27 October 2021, followed by full registration of your substance within 2, 4 or 6 years depending on tonnage band and hazard profile, or
• Appoint a GB-based OR to carry out the DUIN followed by full registration of the substance under UK REACH.

You are a non-GB-based manufacturer who wishes to export chemical substances that are not registered under EU REACH to the UK. You must:

• Complete full registration of your substance immediately. You can appoint a GB-based OR to carry out that requirement on your behalf.

Global Product Compliance has a GB-based OR facility, ‘GPC UK’, ready to assist its existing and future clients in complying with UK REACH.

Update: 2021-01-22