Updates on the UK REACH Alternative Transitional Registration Model (ATRm)
Updates on the UK REACH Alternative Transitional Registration Model (ATRm)
On May 16, 2024, the UK’s Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra) initiated a public consultation concerning the UK REACH regulations, which concluded on July 25, 2024. One of the main focuses of this consultation was the introduction of the Alternative Transitional Registration model (ATRm), designed to alleviate the significant costs expected for businesses registering chemicals under UK REACH.
UK government estimates from 2023 suggested that industry would face costs of up to £2 billion by 2030 for compliance. ATRm aims to reduce this financial burden by cutting down on the duplication of data that is already available under EU REACH.
Focus on Hazard Data and Registration
A key proposal of ATRm is the reduction in the hazard information required for transitional substances. For chemicals already on the market before the UK’s exit from the EU (December 31, 2020), the data requirements for UK REACH will be scaled back. This change is projected to cut registration costs by 70%. However, for new substances, full hazard information remains a requirement.
Registrants of chemicals under UK REACH will still need to perform Chemical Safety Assessments (CSA) and submit Chemical Safety Reports (CSR). However, under the new model, they will no longer need to submit comprehensive hazard data unless the details differ from those submitted under EU REACH. The key focus of the UK version is on use and exposure information, to enhance safety assessments.
Reducing Animal Testing
An important aspect of the ATRm model is its commitment to minimizing animal testing. In line with the principles of UK REACH, tests on vertebrate animals will only be conducted as a last resort, aligning with efforts to prevent duplicate tests already conducted under EU REACH.
Enhanced Regulatory Powers and Next Steps
The proposal also aims to strengthen the regulatory authority of the UK’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE), enabling them to request additional data from registrants to better manage risks. As the changes are implemented, Defra plans to revise what information will be publicly available in the UK’s chemical registration database.
A summary of the responses from the consultation will be published by Defra, with further updates expected in the coming months. For businesses and stakeholders in the chemical industry, this shift presents an opportunity to align practices with more cost-effective, streamlined regulations.
For more insights into these changes, the Global Chemical Regulation Conference in London on October 17, 2024, will feature discussions on the ATRm and its implications for the UK chemical sector.