DEFRA consults on the extension of transitional registration deadlines under UK REACH

The UK Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has begun consultation on the extension of UK REACH registration deadlines. UK REACH established a transitional system whereby substances registered under EU REACH could continue to be marketed in Great Britain with only minimal compliance obligations, and full registration would only become necessary at later dates (in October 2023, 2025, or 2027, depending on the substance).
 

However, the industry has raised concerns about the adjustment costs, and work is currently being carried out to provide an alternative framework. Given the proximity of the earliest deadline (October 2023) and the difficulty of developing such a new framework, DEFRA sees it as necessary to extend the deadlines.

Consultations are being held on two options. In both options, the initial registration deadline would be pushed forward by three years, to October 2026. Under the first option, the second and third deadlines would likewise be extended by three years (to October 2028 and 2030, respectively). DEFRA’s second (and preferred) option would only delay these by 2 and 1 years (to October 2027 and 2028, respectively).

Current registration timeline and options under consideration

The Consultation closes on September 1, 2022. After that date, DEFRA will analyse the submissions and choose one of the options.