UK REACH: what it is and its main obligations

Following the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union (Brexit), the country left the EU REACH system and developed its own regulatory framework: Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 – UK REACH.

This regulation applies in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales), while Northern Ireland continues to follow EU REACH, creating a differentiated regulatory landscape within the UK itself.

UK REACH maintains the same principles as EU REACH, aiming to ensure a high level of protection of human health and the environment from the risks posed by chemical substances.

Who does UK REACH apply to?

UK REACH applies to companies established in Great Britain that:

• Manufacture chemical substances
• Import substances from the EU or from third countries
• Use substances in industrial processes

As in the EU, registration is mandatory for substances manufactured or imported in quantities of ≥1 tonne/year.

Substance registration under UK REACH

The UK REACH registration system is similar to the EU system:

• The principle of “one substance, one registration” applies.
• Dossiers must be submitted jointly when there are multiple registrants.
• The competent authority is the HSE (Health and Safety Executive), instead of ECHA

In addition, transitional mechanisms were introduced to support the transition from EU REACH, such as:

• Grandfathering: recognition of existing EU REACH registrations.
• DUIN (Downstream User Import Notification): a notification that allowed importers and downstream users to maintain access to the UK market while postponing full registration requirements.

UK REACH registration deadlines

One of the key aspects of UK REACH is its phased registration deadlines, which have been extended in recent years.

The current deadlines for completing registrations are:

27 October 2026:

• Substances ≥1000 t/year

• CMR substances (≥1 t/year)

• Substances very toxic to the aquatic environment (≥100 t/year)

• Substances included in the Candidate List (SVHC)

27 October 2028

• Substances ≥100 t/year

27 October 2030

• Substances ≥1 t/year

These deadlines mainly apply to companies that previously operated under EU REACH and must complete their transition to UK REACH.

Impact on companies

The existence of UK REACH means that many companies placing products on both the UK and EU markets must manage two parallel regulatory systems:

• EU REACH for the European market
• UK REACH for Great Britain

This may result in:

• Duplication of registrations
• Need for data access in both systems
• Additional costs and increased administrative burden

For companies operating in both markets, it is essential to understand the specific requirements of each system and anticipate registration deadlines to ensure business continuity.

If you need support to comply with UK REACH, we can help you manage your registration and ensure continued access to the UK market.