ECHA opens Brexit window for UK businesses

Helsinki - The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has opened a “Brexit window” in REACH regulations for UK-based companies to make the necessary changes to their registrations ahead of the UK’s departure from the EU 29 March.

In an 8 Feb statement, ECHA said UK-based manufacturers or formulators could either transfer their business or appoint an only representative in one of the EU27/EEA countries in order to keep their substances registered under REACH.

The Brexit window will be open 12 Feb till end of the day 29 March to allow companies to transfer their registration.

Pointing to “continued political uncertainty”, the agency urged companies to “act now” in order to continue complying with their obligations under REACH and other regulations.

ECHA also warned that EU-based downstream users should also find alternative suppliers if they rely on REACH authorisations granted to a UK-based company.

EU-27 companies will also need to notify their exports of hazardous substances regulated under the prior informed consent (PIC) regulation when exporting to the UK.

This, it said, will be done using the ePIC tool. The export notification in ePIC needs to be submitted 35 days before the export.

EU-based companies will also need to prepare for placing substances on the UK market after 29 March, which will be governed by UK law. The UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published respective guidance.