Chemicals sector welcomes Government offer on UK REACH deadlines
15 Feb 2023
Chemical sector firms have almost unanimously supported increased deadline times for the UK REACH regime.
Whitehall had sought responses to the Option 1 scheme delaying submission deadlines for three tonnage bands until October 2026, October 202, and October 2030.
A nine month discussion process in 2022 followed pressure from the Chemical Business Association (CBA) on the Government to be more accommodating to the industry’s needs.
The then Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) was warned the introduction of the UK REACH regime to replace its EU counterpart would cause challenges for the sector’s supply chain.
CEO of the CBA Tim Doggett said: “We are delighted [they] committed to exploring an alternative model and to extend the deadlines, of which this is a first encouraging step.
“We remain committed to finding a practical, workable, and affordable solution for everyone, and this extension provides us with an opportunity to pursue suitable options.”
The Government said opting for the Option 1 scheme “could lessen burdens on SMEs and downstream users without significantly reducing levels of protection of human health and of the environment”.
