UK REACH Alternative ​Transition Registration Model (ATRm):​ A New Approach⁤ to Chemical Registration

The UK Department for Environment,⁤ Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)‍ has launched⁣ a public consultation on UK REACH, introducing the ⁢Alternative Transition Registration Model (ATRm). This new approach‍ aims to reduce data duplication and costs ⁤for companies transitioning from EU REACH to UK REACH,‍ while also introducing further protections against unnecessary animal testing.

Hazardous Data

The‌ ATRm proposes a significant ‍reduction in the hazard information ⁢provided in the registration of transitional substances, focusing ⁣on⁢ use and exposure information. This applies to ​all ⁤substances registered ​and placed on the market before the‌ end ‍of the Withdrawal​ Implementation Period (31 May 2020). Full hazard information will still ⁣be required for substances placed on the market after​ that date.

The consultation notes ⁢that ⁣the hazard conclusions for UK REACH will generally be the same as those​ for EU⁢ REACH. Therefore,⁢ it is proposed⁤ that ​the required hazard data can be reduced, eliminating the need to fully replicate ⁢ECHA’s hazard information ⁤database.⁤ This has the potential to ​reduce the costs ⁢associated with‌ filing registration documents under UK REACH by 70% ⁤compared‌ to the ⁤current UK REACH baseline.

Chemical Substance Safety ‍Report

UK REACH requires all registrants ‍of substances over 10 tonnes to carry out a Chemical Safety Assessment (CSA) and​ produce a Chemical Safety Report (CSR). The​ ATRm proposes that⁣ registrants submitting CSRs for transitional ‍substances do not need to‌ include all details of their hazard assessment under UK REACH, unless otherwise ​specified.

The CSR must include key hazard ‍data such as classification, labeling, and⁢ packaging (CLP) classification,‍ persistence, bioaccumulation, and ⁣toxicity (PBT) assessment conclusions, Derived ‌No⁤ Effect ⁣Levels (DNELs), Predicted ‍No⁢ Effect ​Concentrations (PNECs), ⁤and ‌other data if exposure and risk assessments are triggered.

UK Use and Exposure

The UK Government aims to use ATRm to understand substance ⁣use and⁢ exposure in the United Kingdom (GB). The consultation emphasizes the importance ​of clear information about how substances are ⁣used and​ how humans and the⁢ environment may be exposed in the⁣ UK.

The purpose of⁤ incorporating detailed information on use and exposure into existing hazard conclusions is to improve the quality of risk assessment, management, and control. This helps industry fulfill its‌ responsibility‍ to ensure ​the safe use of chemicals ⁢throughout the supply chain.

Regulatory Authority

The proposals aim to support ‌regulatory needs by giving ‍the UK REACH​ authority, the Health and Safety ​Executive (HSE), the power to request and obtain data from registrants. This will enable​ the HSE to⁤ more effectively ⁣assess risks and respond‌ quickly to new or⁤ emerging hazards, improving ⁤the prioritization of regulatory and safety measures.

Animal Testing

The consultation emphasizes that, in accordance with UK REACH, testing on vertebrate animals should only be carried‌ out as a last ⁤resort. The ATRm approach reduces the need to ​repeat animal studies conducted ​to meet the information requirements‍ of EU REACH.

Next Steps

The⁤ response to the consultation and a summary of the Government’s response‌ will be published on the Department​ for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs website.