UK REACH: CBA welcomes extension to deadlines

London - The Chemical Business Association has given a favourable response to the publication of the REACH (Amendment) Regulations 2023.

The publication follows a CBA campaign to highlight negative implications of planned regulations on the UK chemicals supply-chain, post-Brexit.

Amendments outlined in Statutory Instrument 2023 No 722 now officially extend the transitional registration deadlines, as initially defined in Article 127P of UK REACH.

Referenced as 'option 1' during previous CBA discussions with the UK department for environment, food & rural affairs (Defra), the changes will come into force on 19 July.

Their effect will be to extend submission deadlines for the three-tonnage bands, to October 2026, October 2028, and October 2030, respectively.

Compliance-check deadlines have also been extended in alignment with these changes, CBA pointed out.

According to the trade association, the modifications deliver a "positive message" to companies throughout the supply-chain.

After protracted dialogue with government, CBA was invited to participate in consultations on the deadline extension with Defra. These concluded last September.

UK REACH Online Clinics organised by the CBA last year revealed strong support for an extension and for 'option 1', it claimed.

CBA chief executive Tim Doggett remarked: "The latest announcement regarding the extension deadlines is encouraging.

"It is essential not only for our members and the broader chemical industry but also for distributors and downstream users across Great Britain who were included within the scope of UK REACH after Brexit."

Doggett listed the implications of UK REACH as including: estimated implementation costs of around £2-3.5 billion; reduced global competitiveness; hesitation to invest due to the prevailing uncertainty.

UK manufacturers "are also at a disadvantage, as they may not have access to the full range of raw materials available to their EU counterparts, ultimately leading to a lack of products for consumers," he concluded.

Report from Process Engineering, an associate publication of Euroopean Rubber Journal.