Research and analysis

RPC opinion: extension of UK REACH deadlines options assessment

RPC's opinion of the options assessment produced by DEFRA for UK REACH (registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals).

• From: Regulatory Policy Committee
• Published: 31 March 2026

Documents

RPC opinion: extension of UK REACH registration deadlines options assessment

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RPC opinion: extension of UK REACH registration deadlines options assessment

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The aim of the proposal is to give businesses and regulators more time to prepare for the new Alternative Transitional Registration model to cover registrations of substances which were already on the EU market at the time of EU Exit.

The Regulatory Policy Committee (RPC) gave a ‘green’ rating to the options assessment for the proposal from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) on 3 June 2025.

This means that we considered the options assessment to be ‘fit for purpose’ based on our scrutiny of the evidence and analysis supporting the case for why regulation is necessary.

The RPC’s opinion refers to the evidence and analysis presented in the options assessment, not the policy itself.

Following issue of the RPC’s opinion, an impact assessment for the draft statutory instrument, The REACH (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2026, was laid in Parliament on 24 March 2026.

Under the Better Regulation Framework, DEFRA is not required to submit the impact assessment to the RPC for further independent scrutiny.

Published 31 March 2026