GB importers or downstream users of qualifying NI goods registered under EU REACH by a business in NI

Introduction

For the duration of the Northern Ireland Protocol, Northern Ireland will remain part of EU regulatory systems for chemicals to ensure frictionless movement of goods within the island of Ireland, whilst remaining within the UK customs territory.

Northern Ireland businesses will retain their current EU REACH status and obligations allowing them to maintain current supply chains to the EU/EEA.

Northern Ireland notifications

A light touch notification system (known as ‘Northern Ireland notifications’) has been developed to facilitate ongoing GB market access for existing NI-based EU REACH registrations in respect of qualifying NI goods.

Northern Ireland notifications only apply to the import from Northern Ireland of QNIGs with a relevant connection to Northern Ireland, for example , substances, mixtures or articles that have been manufactured, formulated or produced in Northern Ireland.

Great Britain-based importers will be required to submit some information on the substances they import into Great Britain from Northern Ireland in quantities of a tonne or more. This information must be submitted within 300 days of the end of the transition period. Information required for a Northern Ireland Notification provides d etails of what must be submitted.

The notification and information can be submitted by either the GB importer or the NI supplier. Northern Ireland-based business wishing to do this should first inform your GB customer of your intentions.

Complete a Northern Ireland Notification

You can complete a Northern Ireland Notification by:

• opening an account on the new UK REACH IT system called 'Comply with UK REACH'
• providing some information about the substance you wish to continue exporting into Great Britain - information required for a Northern Ireland notification provides details of what must be submitted

There will be no fees for the submission of a Northern Ireland notification. No registration will be needed where a Northern Ireland notification has been made.

Information required for a Northern Ireland notification

Imports of one to ten tonnes from Northern Ireland

If the substance is being imported into Great Britain from Northern Ireland in quantities of between one to ten tonnes per year the relevant business must supply:

• notification that the import is a protected NI import
• the information referred to in Article 10(a)(i)
• the information referred to in Article 10(a)(ii) and (iv) to the extent that it is available to them
• the information referred to in Article 32(1)(a) to (d)
• the relevant registration number for the substance under EU REACH to the extent it is available to them, such other evidence as the Agency may require to demonstrate that the Article 32 information complies with Articles 10, 12 and 14 
• this means:
  • notification of the protected NI import
  • identity of manufacturers/importers
  • substance identity to the extent it is available to them
  • classification and labelling to the extent it is available to them
  • details of any authorisations
  • details of any restrictions
  • any other available and relevant information necessary to enable appropriate risk management measures to be identified and applied
  • registration number(s) assigned by ECHA to the extent it is available to them

Ten tonnes or more

If the substance being imported into Great Britain from Northern Ireland is in quantities of ten tonnes or more per year the relevant business must supply:

• notification that the import is a protected NI import
• the information referred to in Article 10(a)(i)
• the information referred to in Article 10(a)(ii) and (iv) to the extent that it is available to them
• the information referred to in:
  • Article 14(6) to the extent it is available to them
  • Article 31, and
  • Article 32(1)(a) to (d)
• the relevant registration number for the substance under EU REACH to the extent it is available to them
• such other evidence as the Agency may require to demonstrate that the Article 14, 31 and 32 information complies with Articles 10, 12 and 14, this means:
  • notification of the protected NI import
  • identity of manufacturers/importers
  • substance identity to the extent that it is available to them
  • classification and labelling to the extent that it is available to them
  • identification and application of appropriate measures to control risks identified in the Chemical Safety Report to the extent it is available to them
  • safety data sheets
  • details of any authorisation
  • details of any restriction
  • any other available and relevant information necessary to enable appropriate risk management measures to be identified and applied
  • registration number(s) assigned by ECHA to the extent it is available to them