Environmental guidance for your business in Northern Ireland & Scotland
If you use, supply or manufacture chemical substances, or import them from outside the European Union (EU), you must comply with the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulation.
To find out about REACH after Brexit read the guidance from the HSE:
Other requirements of REACH can affect you regardless of the quantity or your role in the supply chain. For example, if you supply or use certain chemical substances which could be particularly harmful to human health or the environment, you will have to meet certain requirements under REACH. See the page in this guideline: REACH - substances of very high concern and restricted chemicals.
REACH applies to most chemical substances, either on their own or in preparations or mixtures. It is not limited to industrial chemicals and includes chemicals used in day-to-day life. Preparations or mixtures include:
READ: HSE: REACH after Brexit
REACH also applies to chemicals contained in some finished products, known as articles. You must comply with REACH if you manufacture or supply articles, or are importing articles from outside the EU.
European Chemicals Agency (ECHA): Factsheet - what you need to know
HSE: REACH and articles (PDF, 97K)
REACH may also apply to a chemical substance you recover from waste in quantities of one tonne or more per calendar year.
HSE: REACH and substances recovered from waste (PDF 100K)
Some chemical substances are partially or completely exempt from REACH.
HSE: REACH and exemptions (PDF 129K)
Chemsec has developed an online resource, the Marketplace, where businesses can source alternatives to chemicals that have health or environmental impacts. If you produce safer chemicals then you can also present your alternatives to potential customers.
In the UK the competent authority for administering REACH is the HSE. The competent authority's responsibilities include:
Several regulators monitor and enforce the different duties under REACH. This depends on the chemical, your business type and part of the UK you operate in.
HSE: Who enforces REACH, a UK wide guide
You can email the REACH compliance team for specific queries about REACH compliance at reachcompliance@hse.gsi.gov.uk.
Does the REACH Regulation apply to your business?
Manufacturers and importers of chemicals: REACH responsibilities
Distributors and users of chemicals: REACH responsibilities
REACH - Substances of very high concern and restricted chemicals
EU review of fluorinated greenhouse gas (“F-gas”) policy and legislation, The EU is carrying out a review of its laws on F-gases, which may have an effect on NI stakeholders.
Guidance on Carrier Bags Charging Legislation in Northern Ireland (from 1 April 2022), DAERA has published guidance on the new Carrier Bags Charging Legislation
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