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By 
Silvia Segna2025-07-17T12:37:00+01:00
The government has proposed extending the deadlines for businesses to submit dossiers for transitional registrations under UK REACH for the third time, putting the first deadline seven years later than originally proposed.
Explore this page: UK REACH and Challenge | An extension helps but it is not the solution | What’s been proposed to solve this | What the chemical industry wants | CIA policy statement
Following over five years of intense discussion and welcoming Defra’s initial work towards a more pragmatic approach around data requirements and registration fees, the chemicals industry, and many of its key customers including advanced manufacturing sectors, remain concerned given the lack of progress in delivering a way forward on UK REACH. As businesses across the UK have been facing unprecedented uncertainty with a first compliance deadline of October 2026 fast approaching, DEFRA has proposed a further extension to the registration’s timeline for transitional registrations.
UK REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) is the legal framework for managing chemicals in Great Britain. Following the UK’s exit from the EU, this regulation was created to replace EU REACH for the GB market. Although UK REACH is structurally similar, EU and UK REACH are implemented independently from each other, having important implications for businesses with commercial interests in both markets. In recognising these challenges, the best EU exit outcome would have been for the UK to fully remain within EU chemical regulations, with a seat at the table for decision making and continuing to use the services of the European Chemical Agency (ECHA) – a position CIA pushed for during the Brexit negotiations.
This situation has led to:
As things stand today, the latter would mean a cost to UK industry, estimated by Defra to be ~£2-3billion, relating to the re-submission of data to the UK authorities, unless a solution is put in place as a matter of urgency.
Following the Government’s announcement of the third registration deadline extension, the CIA stated:
“The proposal to extend existing UK REACH registration deadlines is met with relief, minimising the immediate uncertainty while working towards a solution that does not undermine UK businesses across the manufacturing supply chain. Given this is the third extension since the UK’s departure from the EU and with that the set-up of UK REACH, five years on we urge Government to deliver on the commitment made to minimise registration costs to industry while maintaining human health and environment protection.”
The ongoing uncertainty is not only creating barriers for existing products being supplied to the GB market but hampering new innovations and products being introduced. This is at a time when these are much needed, whether it be to enhance resilience and/or supply advance manufacturing, life sciences, defence and the clean energy sector as set out in the Industrial Strategy.
In 2023, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) proposed the Alternative Transitional Registration model (ATRm), which would permit reduced hazard assessments and revised use and exposure requirements. The CIA sees the ATRm as a step in the right direction, but further clarity is essential before businesses can prepare for compliance and continue to advocate for a model that avoids unnecessary duplication.
CIA has been calling for both minimising the immediate uncertainty and working towards a solution that does not undermine UK businesses across the manufacturing supply chain:
1. An extension to existing UK REACH registration deadlines is necessary
As the government’s approach to UK chemical regulation and related legislation has not been finalised yet, it is regrettably clear that the upcoming registration deadline for transitional registrations cannot be met. We repeat our call on the need for two years to understand, plan and comply with any future alternative registration model requirements, once in place.
2. Implement a fully functioning UK registration regime, minimising costs to industry while maintaining human health and environment protection
While the Alternative Transitional Registration Model (ATRm) proposal is a step in the right direction, we await to continue work with Defra on remaining issues as business urgently requires policy certainty. The ongoing uncertainty is not only creating barriers for existing products being supplied to the GB market but hampering new innovations and products being introduced. This is at a time when these are much needed, whether it be to enhance resilience and/or supply advance manufacturing, life sciences, defence and the clean energy sector.
3. Avoiding unnecessary duplication of EU REACH Registrations
CIA supports the Government’s ambition to n identifying a workable alternative registration model but this must not come at the cost of requiring full resubmission of dossiers already completed under EU REACH. This approach does not help improving protection of human health and environment or support UK chemicals and wider manufacturing innovation or investment in the UK.
The CIA will continue working closely with members to develop its response to the current consultation, ensuring the voice of industry is clearly heard as we shape the future of UK chemical regulation.
The government has proposed extending the deadlines for businesses to submit dossiers for transitional registrations under UK REACH for the third time, putting the first deadline seven years later than originally proposed.
