Industrial Chemical

UK REACH Transitional Registration Deadlines Extended to 2029–2031

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Introduction

On December 22, 2025, the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) published the outcome of a public consultation on extending the deadlines for submitting transitional registrations under UK REACH. The government plans to extend the existing submission deadlines to 2029, 2030, and 2031, respectively. 

This decision was made following an analysis of the public consultation conducted between July and September 2025.

Why Extend the Submission Deadlines for UK REACH Transitional Registration?

UK REACH is the chemical regulatory framework established in Great Britain (excluding Northern Ireland) following Brexit. The regulation requires substances manufactured or imported in Great Britain to be registered with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), providing information on the hazards, uses, and potential exposures of the substances. These data support companies in developing risk management measures and provide regulators with the necessary information to protect public health and the environment.

Previously, due to industry concerns over registration costs and the government's ongoing work to complete legislation for the Alternative Transitional Registration model (ATRm), the deadlines had already been extended to 2026, 2028, and 2030. The purpose of this further extension is to give businesses more time to adapt to the new model while ensuring a high level of protection for health and the environment.

New Submission Deadlines

According to the summary, the new deadlines are as follows:


Substances

New Deadlines

Original Deadlines

For substances on the candidate list before 31 December 2023; CMR substances; substances highly toxic to aquatic organisms with registration tonnage greater than 100 tonnes/year; and substances with registration tonnage greater than 1,000 tonnes/year

October 27, 2029

October 27, 2026

For substances added to the candidate list between 1 January 2024 and 27 October 2026, and substances with registration tonnage greater than 100 tonnes/year.

October 27, 2030

October 27, 2028

For all other substances with registration tonnage greater than 1 tonne/year.

October 27, 2031

October 27, 2030 


In addition, the statutory timeframe for HSE to conduct compliance checks on registration dossiers will be adjusted in line with the new submission deadlines to ensure checks are carried out after full data submission.

Following agreement from the Scottish and Welsh Governments, Defra will amend the UK REACH legislation accordingly.

Consultation Results and Government Choice

During the 8-week public consultation, Defra received 210 responses from stakeholders, including chemical manufacturers, importers, downstream users, trade associations, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The consultation presented four options, including maintaining the existing deadlines (“no action”) and three different extension scenarios. Ultimately, the government selected Option 1, extending the deadlines to 2029, 2030, and 2031.

Although the majority of respondents (70%) preferred Option 2 (extensions to April 2029, April 2031, and April 2033), the government considered Option 1 to be more balanced, providing businesses with sufficient preparation time while avoiding unnecessary delays. The government also noted that the one-year intervals in Option 1 better align with the simplified data requirements of the ATRm.

Impact on Industry

The extension of the submission deadlines is expected to have the following impacts on the chemical industry:

  • Relieving compliance pressure: Companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, will have more time to spread registration costs and avoid submitting low-quality dossiers due to time constraints.

  • Supporting supply chain stability: The extension will help companies maintain existing product portfolios and reduce the risk of market withdrawals due to registration delays.

  • Prioritising high-concern substances: Despite the overall extension, high-hazard and high-tonnage substances will still need to be registered earlier, ensuring protection of public health and the environment.

Compliance Recommendations from REACH24H

To address the new submission deadlines, companies should take the following measures:

  • Plan ahead: Develop a phased registration plan based on the new timetable, prioritising high-hazard and high-tonnage substances.

  • Monitor ATRm progress: Closely follow government updates on the legislation and implementation details of the ATRm to ensure compliance preparations meet the new model requirements.

  • Collaborate with the supply chain: Communicate with upstream and downstream partners to ensure all links in the supply chain meet UK REACH requirements.

For more information and inquiries, please feel free to contact us at customer@reach24h.com.

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