The Government has issued guidance to businesses that use chemicals, setting out the actions they should take to minimise disruption in the event of a no-deal Brexit. CPM reports.

Imported chemicals are critical for UK arable farmers, but if the UK leaves the EU without a deal, it could affect their supply.

To minimise disruption, the Government has issued guidance for businesses that manufacture or import chemicals from the EU. They will have to register those chemicals under a new UK regulatory system.

UK REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) will replace EU REACH and will require businesses to demonstrate how a chemical can be safely used with minimal risk to human health or the environment.

New requirements

These new requirements come as part of the Government’s ongoing commitment to maintain environmental standards post-Brexit. So what exactly would this mean if the UK leaves without a deal?

Under the new requirements:

  • UK businesses that manufacture a chemical (those currently registered to EU REACH) will need to validate their existing registration with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) within 60 days of the UK leaving the EU.
  • UK businesses that import a chemical substance from the EU will need to set up a new registration with HSE within 180 days of UK leaving the EU.
  • UK businesses that export chemicals to the EU will need to have an EU REACH registration in place once the UK leaves the EU.

 

In addition, HSE will require businesses to submit more technical information within two years of the official departure from the EU.

To register on UK REACH in a no deal scenario, businesses need to take the following action:

  • Identify the chemical and quantity that they use;
  • Understand how to register that chemical by reading the EU Exit guidance; and
  • Prepare the information for that registration.

 

Prepare for all scenarios

“Delivering a negotiated deal with the EU remains the Government’s top priority, but it is the job of a responsible Government to ensure we are prepared for all scenarios, including no deal,” said environment minister Thérèse Coffee.

“It is not just chemical producers that could be affected by this change, so I encourage all businesses that use chemicals to read the guidance on the HSE website and check whether they need to take action.”