You might have missed the UK’s withdrawal from the EU and the subsequent transition period that ended on 31st December 2020. Depending on which side of the English Channel you sit, you may have to deal with EU REACH, UK REACH and somewhere in the middle of all that, Northern Ireland.
On the 1st January 2021, the EU REACH Regulation was brought into UK law under the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. In essence, REACH, and its related legislation has been replicated in the UK with the necessary changes to make it operable in a domestic context. The fundamental principles of the EU REACH Regulation have been retained. The new domestic regime is known as UK REACH and is managed by the UK Health and Safety Executive (UK HSE).
Companies that supply and purchase substances, mixtures or articles to and from the EU/EEA/Northern Ireland and Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) will need to ensure that the relevant duties are met under both pieces of legislation.
The UK REACH and the EU REACH regulations now operate independently from each other so companies trading in the EU and the UK will have to comply with both sets of rules to maintain or gain access to these markets.
You can find out more about UK REACH and register here.
But that is not all; you also have to consider that other EU regulations (RoHS, POPs, CLP, Biocides, etc.) have also been brought into UK law. You will need to be conversant and comply with these regulations as well.
