Regulating chemicals (REACH) if there’s no Brexit deal (link)
In the event of a ‘no deal’ Brexit, the UK would ensure UK legislation replaces EU legislation via the EU Withdrawal Act, establish a UK regulatory framework and build domestic capacity to deliver the functions currently performed by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). The legislation would preserve REACH as far as possible, while making technical changes that would need to be made because the UK has left the EU.
By doing this, the UK would continue to be able to monitor and evaluate chemicals in the UK to reduce the risk posed to human health and the environment. It would also minimise disruption to the supply in chemicals. Existing standards of protection of human health and the environment would be maintained. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) would act as the lead UK regulatory authority, from the day the UK leaves the EU, building on its existing capacity and capability.
The new regulatory framework would: enable the registration of new chemicals through a UK IT system that is similar to the existing EU IT system; provide specialist capacity to evaluate the impact of chemicals on health and the environment; ensure sufficient regulatory and enforcement capacity in the HSE, the Environment Agency (EA) and other regulators, enabling them to recommend controls in response to the hazards and risks of substances; and provide for an appropriate policy function in Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) and the devolved administrations.
In a ‘no deal’ scenario the UK would not be legally committed to medium or long-term regulatory alignment with the EEA.
Source: Defra.