ECHA to Chemical Companies: Prepare for End of Brexit Transition Period

The European Chemicals Agency, ECHA, reminds companies that the transition period for Brexit, the United Kingdom’s formal withdrawal from the European Union, is set to end on Dec. 31, 2020. The agency urges companies established in the EU/European Economic Area (EEA) to check to see whether they will be affected by the withdrawal, as will be the case if their supply chains as a customer or supplier extend to the U.K. According to ECHA, businesses that remain connected in any way to the remaining EU member states or EEA countries must prepare for changes.

After the transition period, all EU chemicals legislation—including the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation—will no longer apply to companies established in the U.K. as long as their chemical substances and other products are placed on the market only in the U.K. or exported directly from the U.K. to non-EU/EEA countries.

ECHA also encourages downstream users of authorized substances in the EU/EEA to check the list of substances registered only by U.K. companies (.XLSX file), as REACH authorizations granted to U.K. suppliers will no longer exist after the transition period. ECHA’s website explains the options available for EU or EEA-based downstream users who want to continue using those substances. Other instructions and resources published on ECHA’s website, including a Q&A, are also intended to help chemical companies based in Europe prepare for the U.K.’s withdrawal from the EU.