UK EU Reach testing new work plan, these priority controlled substances need attention
According to the 2018 EU (Brexit) Act, the EU REACH regulation has been incorporated into UK law, and REACH and related legislation have been replicated in the UK. The key principles of the EU REACH regulation have been retained and necessary modifications have been made to make it operable in the UK environment. The system is now in effect and is known as UK REACH. UK REACH covers all sectors involved in the manufacturing, import, distribution, or use of chemicals as raw materials or finished products (not just the chemical industry), regardless of the size of the company, making relevant enterprises responsible for the safe use of substances put on the market or used, and requiring every participant in the supply chain to exchange information on the safe use of chemicals.
After the end of the Brexit transition period, the UK officially became an independent European country outside the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA), and its environmental regulations also came into effect independently; At present, the vast majority of UK REACH requirements are basically consistent with EU REACH, which means that the relevant substance list of UK REACH has not been updated yet, and is basically consistent with the EU REACH substance list before the end of the Brexit transition period (January 1, 2021). However, as time goes by, UK environmental regulations will be independently updated and gradually improved.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the governing body for UK REACH, responsible for most of the regulatory functions under UK REACH, including drafting the annual UK REACH Work Programme, which includes how HSE will carry out regulatory activities to meet the objectives set out in UK REACH; HSE will work closely with the Environmental Protection Agency, relevant authorities, and other relevant government departments to obtain relevant support, carry out REACH related work, identify top priorities, and actively manage risks. In June 2022, HSE released the UK REACH work plan for 2022/23, which includes the following priority items:
Note: RMOA (Regulatory Management Options Analysis) is a regulatory management plan analysis aimed at describing the reasons for considering regulatory measures, documenting existing regulatory situations related to the issue, determining regulatory measures that may be necessary to address the problem, and highlighting any key areas of uncertainty in the available information.
In addition to the three types of substances listed in the table, priority items include "flame retardants" and "intentionally added microplastics in substances, mixtures, and items"; Flame retardants have been identified as a key area that requires further evidence collection to provide information for future chemical policies. In accordance with HSE requirements, the Environmental Agency will update previous reports on the use of flame retardants in the UK and their potential impacts on the environment and human health based on existing evidence; The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is also reviewing the emissions of intentionally added microplastics and the risks they pose to human health and the environment.
STS Dehua Testing recommends that companies exporting products to the UK that involve substances such as PFAS, formaldehyde, and flame retardants should pay attention to the latest developments in UK REACH to ensure timely compliance. In addition to UK REACH, companies should also pay attention to the compliance requirements of other environmental regulations, including UK RoHS, after Brexit.