After numerous delays, the United Kingdom (UK) will formally leave the European Union (EU) at midnight on Jan. 31, 2020 (Brussels time). There are implications regarding implementation of the EU Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation and its application in the UK. Here is a snapshot:
• After the withdrawal, the UK will no longer be a Member State of the EU. This means that as a third country, the UK will no longer be represented in the EU institutions (such as the European Parliament and the Council), agencies, bodies and offices.
• During the upcoming transition period starting February 1, 2020 and lasting at least until December 31, 2020 the EU REACH Regulation and all other EU law will continue to apply in the UK as it currently does.
• During the transition period it will be “business as usual” for businesses in both the EU and the UK. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) IT tools (including REACH-IT) will remain available to UK companies until the end of the transition period.
• Possible consequences such as for REACH Registration will take effect only after the transition period. The timeline for transferring the UK registrations would therefore shift to the end of the transition period.
• The transition period will be used by the EU and the UK to agree on a new partnership for the future. These negotiations will also determine if a separate UK REACH regime will apply after the end of the transition period.
SGIA will continue to follow this developing issue. For more information, please contact SGIA’s Government Affairs Department at govtaffairs@sgia.org.
• After the withdrawal, the UK will no longer be a Member State of the EU. This means that as a third country, the UK will no longer be represented in the EU institutions (such as the European Parliament and the Council), agencies, bodies and offices.
• During the upcoming transition period starting February 1, 2020 and lasting at least until December 31, 2020 the EU REACH Regulation and all other EU law will continue to apply in the UK as it currently does.
• During the transition period it will be “business as usual” for businesses in both the EU and the UK. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) IT tools (including REACH-IT) will remain available to UK companies until the end of the transition period.
• Possible consequences such as for REACH Registration will take effect only after the transition period. The timeline for transferring the UK registrations would therefore shift to the end of the transition period.
• The transition period will be used by the EU and the UK to agree on a new partnership for the future. These negotiations will also determine if a separate UK REACH regime will apply after the end of the transition period.
SGIA will continue to follow this developing issue. For more information, please contact SGIA’s Government Affairs Department at govtaffairs@sgia.org.