UK to loosen chemical registration requirements under UK-REACH
This decision comes after the UK encountered a number of problems with its approach to establishing its own version of REACH.
Why did they make these changes on registration requirements under UK-REACH? The primary goal was to maintain high standards of environmental protection and human health and safety. However, this needed to be done in a way that did not simply copy and paste all of the EU requirements into UK law.
According to industry, this approach would be hugely costly, damage the UK’s manufacturing base, and create so much bureaucracy in the replication of data sets that the regulator would have little time to work on compliance.
That is why Defra, the UK government department responsible for chemical policy, extended the deadline for substance registration to give time to come up with a new approach.
Finally, Defra has established a new policy direction for UK REACH. This direction will loosen the requirements for substance registration, which has concerned experts who say it will harm human health and the environment in the UK.
In a written statement, they confirmed that, in general, they would not require full hazard data dossiers to be submitted for each substance to be registered. In fact, they would seek to ensure that only the minimum of hazard data was required. There could be exceptions, for example, for substances of very high concern or when authorities wish to examine particular substances in more detail.
It is not clear how much use and exposure data they will require, although it appears that the proposal will adopt a phased approach similar to EU REACH
While fewer hazard data will be required, the UK’s competent authority, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), will instead require more risk data in the form of use and exposure data in the workplace. At this time, it is not clear how much use and exposure data they will require. Although it appears that the proposal will adopt a phased approach similar to that of REACH. For example, exposure data will be required when the use of a substance exceeds 10 tonnes.
However, this news has not been well-received by environmental groups. There is concern that the UK regime will be much less robust than that of the EU, with fewer funds and staff to review chemical lists to see if they pose a sufficient risk to health and the environment to be banned.
Activists have called on the government to follow EU chemical regulations as a standard only deviating when there is a good reason to do so.
The UK has not been a member of the EU’s REACH Regulation since 2021. Since then, the EU has adopted eight regulations restricting the use of hazardous chemicals, and there are another 16 in the pipeline. The UK has not banned any substances in that time and is only considering two restrictions: on lead ammunition and harmful substances in tattoo ink.
It is expected that more information will be published in February, coinciding with the start of a formal consultation process. There will also be a separate consultation in January covering new proposals for the fees applicable to registration under UK REACH.
Do you need help complying with the UK-REACH regulation? Nordiik can help, contact us today!
Source: Gov.UK
Image: Pexels
