REACH deadline: FAQ


All chemical substances produced or imported in the EU between 1 and 100 tonnes a year need to be registered by 31 May 2018 with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).

With the REACH registration deadline around the corner, some may wonder whether the industry will be ready by the deadline and what will happen next. On this page, we have a compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions about the deadline and how the EU chemical industry is preparing for it.

Is the May deadline the end of the REACH journey ?

No. The registration is just the tip of the iceberg. Below the waterline lie Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction. Evaluation – both dossier and substance evaluation by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) – will trigger further activities from industry to obtain and provide the necessary information on hazard deficiencies, uses, tonnages and exposure. The evaluation of existing dossiers and regulatory risk management will continue as the European Commission wants to improve the implementation, which is noted in the recently published REACH review.

Are all EU chemicals manufacturers ready for the deadline ? Are all substances registered?

Most of the European chemicals industry is prepared and is on track to meet the 31 May deadline, but there is less clarity on the readiness of smaller importers and some niche downstream supply chains.

Is the chemical industry advocating for the extension of the deadline?

The EU chemical industry does not see any added value in postponing the deadline and there is no possibility to extend it under REACH.

Is the industry preparing any guidance on what to do for last-minute registrations or in case the substances/mixtures are no longer available on the market after the deadline?  

These issues are being handled by the Directors’ Contact Group, consisting of ECHA, the European Commission and European industry associations covering all concerned sectors. The group is developing recommendations on how to deal with “last minutes” surprises and how to act in case substances and mixtures are no longer available. Companies that believe they may face difficulties in complying with REACH after the deadline are advised to contact ECHA before submitting their dossier.

Does Brexit have any impact on the implementation of REACH?

Cefic is in favour of the highest regulatory consistency between the EU and the UK after Brexit. The best solution would be that the UK would stay within REACH or that the UK would establish its own regulatory regime similar to REACH. 

Cefic supports an approach of grandfathering, allowing a continued use of already registered substances without restrictive actions. What has been approved before Brexit via registrations and authorisations should freely remain on the UK and EU market after Brexit.

The continued involvement of the UK in ECHA is not only in the interest of the chemical industry and downstream user industries on both sides of the Channel, but also in the interest of the public at large. The implementation of REACH and associated legislation has benefitted from the involvement of the UK and it would be in our mutual interest for this to continue.