GOV.UK

The UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Scottish and Welsh governments are the relevant UK REACH authorities.

It has worked with the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the UK Environment Agency, and stakeholders such as NGOs and industry associations to identify priorities for the UK-REACH work plan for 2022 to 2023.

Two categories of activities in UK-REACH were prioritised.

♢ Restrictions

A mechanism by which the use of a substance or group of substances can be controlled.

♢ Regulatory Management Options Analysis (RMOA)

An analysis carried out by HSE and/or the UK Environment Agency to understand the risks of the use of a substance or group of substances and to make management recommendations.

A total of 17 proposals were reviewed and the following five priorities were identified for the UK-REACH work plan for 2022 to 2023.

▌Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)

Proposed actions under the ongoing RMOA, which will be released in the summer of 2022.

▌ Intentionally added plastic particles (MPs)

A certification project on identifying and managing the risks they pose.

▌ Formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasing agents in substances

A review of the evidence base and assessment of potential limitations.

▌ Bisphenol in thermal paper

Review of the evidence base and assessment of potential limitations.

▌Harmful flame retardants

Review and update existing evidence on potential environmental risks for inclusion in the broader chemicals policy.

The rationale for the authorities' prioritization of these items is explained in the official work plan, along with why the other remaining proposals were not adopted. These unadopted proposals will be reconsidered in the future when setting priorities for future annual work plans.

In addition, other activities will be identified by the relevant authorities to support UK-REACH, for example, in the form of conducting projects to gather more evidence.

Jireh Standard reminds all the friends of enterprises that if they are involved in the export of perfluorinated and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), intentionally added plastic particles (MPs), substances containing formaldehyde, bisphenol in thermal paper, flame retardants and other products to the UK, they need to pay attention to the latest developments of the relevant UK-REACH compliance and do the corresponding compliance to avoid affecting your trade progress.