UK REACH: UK HSE Published Rolling Action Plan (RAP)
In March, 2022, the UK Health and Safety Executive(HSE) published the rolling action plan for UK REACH, including 2 substances for evaluation in 2022.
In accordance with Article 44 of UK REACH and the criteria outlined in the document \’Approach to substance evaluation in UK REACH\’, the substances listed in table 1 are proposed for inclusion in the rolling action plan (RAP).
In the approach to substance selection, UK HSE has sought to complement rather than replicate evaluation work that has been or will be performed by other regulatory regimes (such as via EU REACH). The intention is to increase the overall understanding of the hazard and risk profile of the priority substances and their relevance to GB.
The selection of substances for inclusion in the RAP is based on the hazard profile of substances and their exposure potential, including the quantities that are supplied. The Agency will consider information from a number of sources to identify priorities:
- The GB specific data within the UK database (Comply with UK REACH-IT)
- UK REACH processes (such as dossier evaluation), which will also develop with the embedding of the UK REACH system past the first year of operation
- Other intelligence – such as horizon scanning of other regimes, both domestic (eg GB CLP) and international (eg EU REACH and other regulatory systems from other countries).
Using the sources above and within the time available to the Agency in the first year of operation of UK REACH, the Agency has identified 2 substances for evaluation in 2022 to include on the first RAP. Due to these processes being in the early stages of development the Agency has not specified other prioritized substances for 2023 and 2024, however HSE has set out the timeline for inclusion in Table 1 below.
- Substance evaluation will be conducted where a potential concern has been identified. The evaluation will determine if a conclusion on the concern can be drawn from the available data. If a conclusion cannot be drawn, HSE can require registrants to provide additional information to clarify the concern. In such cases, if they arise, deadlines will be set by which the information shall be provided.
- The initial grounds for concern are described briefly in the RAP and further detail is provided in the specific justification document for each substance. The indication of the initial grounds for concern does not limit the scope of the evaluation, other areas of concern identified during an assessment may also be addressed.
Substances proposed for inclusion in the rolling action plan (RAP) for UK REACH 2022-2024
Use the links in the table to read the justification for the inclusion of the substance.
| Year | Substance | EC No | CAS No | Initial grounds for concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Paraffin waxes and hydrocarbon waxes, chloro (PDF) | 264-150-0 | 63449-39-8 | Environment: suspected PBT/vPvB
Exposure: wide dispersive use, high (aggregated) tonnage |
| 2022 | 2,2\’-Diallyl-4,4\’-sulfonyldiphenol (PDF) | 411-570-9 | 41481-66-7 | Environment: potential endocrine disrupter Human Health: suspected CMR Exposure: wide dispersive use |
| 2023 | To be agreed in next update (by 31 May 2024) | – | – | – |
| 2024 | To be agreed in next update (by 31 May 2024) | – | – | – |
What is Rolling Action Plan (RAP)?
The rolling action plan (RAP) shows the substances prioritized for evaluation under UK REACH over a period of 3 years. Substance evaluation aims to clarify concerns that the manufacture and/or use of these substances could pose a risk to human health or the environment.
HSE, working with the Environment Agency, will evaluate the substances listed on the RAP. From the date of publication of the RAP, HSE will have 1 year to evaluate the substances specified for evaluation in the first (or current) year and, where necessary, to prepare a draft decision requesting further information from the registrants to clarify the identified concern.
