Changes to REACH Regulation After U.K.’s Brexit for businesses operating in the EU and UK markets

The last day of 2020 marked U.K.'s Brexit and during the transition period, there have been changes announced across regulatory compliance procedures for businesses operating in the EU and U.K. markets. The first being EU REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemical) regulations enforced under the U.K.’s law to form the UK REACH.

Companies that Come Under the Scope of the New UK REACH

All companies or businesses whose chemicals, mixtures, or articles supplychain is to, or from the EU nations, European Economic Area (EEA), and the U.K (Great Britain and Northern Ireland) and engages with customers or supplies in the U.K will have to comply with the UK REACH.

To make sure companies maintain access to EU, EEA, and U.K .markets, there are new action items to make sure the EU REACH transitions to the new UK REACH. The legislation offers guidance for instances such as:

• Great Britain EU REACH registration holders are required to ‘grandfather’ or get legally recognized in the UK REACH when the transition ends. The EU REACH registrants must provide all prior information to HSE and open an account with the new UK REACH.
• Great Britain based users or distributors of EU REACH registered chemicals sourced from EE/EEA or non-qualifying goods from Northern Ireland looking to stay in reach with the Great Britain market.
• GB based importers or distributors or formulators of substances sourced outside the EU/EEA and want to access GB market.
• GB based EU REACH authorization holders.
• GB downstream users of EU REACH authorization held by businesses in the EU/EEA, GB or Northern Ireland.
• Exemptions for PPORD (Product and process oriented research and development).
• EU REACH registration and authorization in process during the transition.
• U.K. REACH for EU/EEA suppliers to GB.
• U.K. REACH for Non EU/EEA suppliers to GB.
• GB importers for downstream users that are eligible for Northern Ireland products registered by EU REACH businesses.
• Northern Ireland businesses trading Qualifying Northern Ireland Goods (QNIG).

Acquis Compliance supports businesses comply with REACH regulations & to meet their goals for sustainability and environmental safety. Contact us if you have further queries.