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Act now – updated IT tools and Brexit advice for companies

ECHA/NR/20/37

ECHA has adapted its IT tools and advice to companies to take into account the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland and the end of the transition period of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. Companies should act now if they are affected by the withdrawal.

Helsinki, 5 November 2020 – ECHA has updated its IT tools and dedicated web section on the UK’s withdrawal from the EU including Q&As with advice to companies.

The transition period of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU ends on 31 December 2020, and the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland starts to apply from 1 January 2021.

REACH, CLP, the BPR, PIC and POPs will continue to apply in Northern Ireland (UK(NI)) after the transition period, but will no longer apply in the rest of the UK (UK(GB)).

Downstream users in the EU/EEA should check the list of substances registered only by UK companies on ECHA’s website to see if they need to take action before the end of the transition period. If they plan to get their supply from the UK(GB) after the end of the transition period, they should register the substance themselves as an importer, unless the registration has been transferred to the EU/EEA.

REACH registrations made by UK(GB)-based manufacturers, importers and only representatives will become void if they are not transferred to the EU/EEA before the end of the transition period. Companies are, therefore, urged to act now and not wait until the last minute.

EU/EEA companies will need to submit their own Poison Centre notifications through the ECHA Submission Portal before they import mixtures from the UK(GB). They cannot rely on submissions previously made by UK(GB) suppliers. Previously submitted notifications by UK(NI) companies will remain in the database and be available to relevant EU/EEA authorities. UK(NI) companies can continue to submit notifications through the ECHA Submission Portal to EU/EEA authorities. However, a new legal entity must first be created. Notifications to the UK(NI) market area will not be possible through the ECHA Submission Portal and must be submitted directly to UK authorities.

Product authorisations held by companies based in the UK(GB) under the Biocidal Products Regulation will need to be transferred to a new authorisation holder within the EU/EEA by the end of the transition period.

Furthermore, companies based in the EU and UK(NI) can now submit PIC export notifications in ePIC for non-EU countries, including UK(GB), taking place as of 1 January 2021. Exports of PIC substances from the EU to UK(NI) do not require notification under the PIC Regulation.