The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched a public consultation on proposed reforms to Great Britain’s (GB’s) chemicals legislation. The consultation, running from June 23, 2025, until August 18, 2025, seeks feedback on proposed changes across three key areas:
1.) Biocidal Products (GB BPR)
The proposals aim to streamline processes, including:
- Recognising international approvals to reduce time and cost for bringing biocidal products to the GB market.
- Replacing fixed active substance renewal dates with a risk-based “call-in” review system.
- Introducing powers to allow essential biocidal substances and products to be made available when needed, with safeguards.
- Enabling more agile amendments to GB BPR procedures via secondary legislation.
2.) Classification, Labelling, and Packaging (GB CLP)
The HSE is looking to make the GB CLP regime more efficient by:
- Consolidating mandatory classification procedures and breaking the automatic link to ECHA’s RAC Opinions.
- Revoking the GB CLP notification database and duty to notify to reduce burdens on duty holders and the regulator.
- Relocating explanatory notes of the GB Mandatory Classification and Labelling (GB MCL) List from Annex VI to the HSE website for easier administrative updates.
- Introducing powers for general updates and to meet international obligations more quickly.
3.) Prior Informed Consent (GB PIC)
The proposals aim to simplify processes for export and import of certain hazardous chemicals by:
- Removing redundant procedures like the Special Reference Identification Number (SRIN) for small quantities.
- Amending the “waiver” process for explicit import consent to streamline conditions.
- Introducing powers for general updates and to ensure timely implementation of international obligations.
These reforms are part of the Government’s commitment to ensuring regulators and regulation support growth, as outlined in the Regulatory Action Plan. The goal is to reduce costs for businesses while maintaining GB’s strong health and safety performance. The consultation is highly relevant to manufacturers, downstream users, distributors, importers, and exporters of hazardous chemicals, as well as authorisation holders of biocidal active substances and suppliers of approved biocidal products.
The public consultation can be found here: HSE Chemicals Legislative Reform Proposals – Health and Safety Executive – Citizen Space
Published June 26, 2025
This article was generated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence.