The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has unveiled a wide-reaching programme of reforms to modernise Great Britain’s chemicals regulatory framework while maintaining the UK's upstanding health and environmental protection through a Consultation on the proposals to reform the UK legislation on chemicals.
It aims to:
The changes form part of the Government’s wider “New Approach” to regulation, a policy initiative designed to ensure regulators not only uphold safety standards but also actively support productivity and economic growth. At the heart of the HSE’s proposals are three key areas of regulation: biocides, classification, labelling and packaging of chemicals (CLP), and the import and export of hazardous substances under the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) regime.
Biocidal Products Regulation
The proposals set out in the consultation involve changes to the Assimilated Regulation 528/2012 on making available on the market and use of biocidal products:
Classification, Labelling and Packaging (GB CLP)
HSE proposes to amend the Assimilated Regulation 1272/2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures to:
Prior Informed Consent (GB PIC)
The proposals included in this consultation also involve amendments to the Assimilated Regulation 649/2012 on the Export and Import of Certain Hazardous Chemicals (GB PIC) to:
A new era for UK Chemicals Regulation
As the regulator for workplace health and safety and the designated authority on chemicals in Great Britain, HSE plays a crucial role in protecting both people and the environment. The planned reforms signal a shift towards a more agile and proportionate regulatory approach that better reflects the UK’s post-Brexit legislative landscape.
The reforms will streamline existing requirements, remove duplication and administrative burdens while preserving the scientific and safety rigour that underpins the system. With an emphasis on clearer processes, faster decision-making, and increased flexibility, the new framework is expected to be more accessible to businesses and better equipped to respond to advances in science and technology.
Supporting business and driving innovation
Under the current framework, businesses face significant regulatory costs and delays, particularly when navigating complex authorisation and data-sharing processes. The HSE’s proposed changes are intended to simplify these processes, making it easier for companies, especially SMEs, to bring products to market without compromising on safety.
By embracing more proportionate data requirements, encouraging the use of non-animal testing methods, and offering more transparent guidance, the reformed system will support innovation in the chemicals sector. These updates are also expected to encourage research and development in sustainable chemical alternatives and emerging technologies, aligning the UK’s regulatory environment with modern industrial needs.
Maintaining safety and public confidence
Despite its growth-friendly ambitions, the HSE has stressed that the reforms will not compromise the UK’s longstanding commitment to health and environmental protection. Great Britain continues to enjoy some of the best workplace safety records in Europe, with consistently low rates of occupational injury and fatality.
The revised framework is intended to build on this strong foundation. By keeping regulation outcomes-focused rather than overly prescriptive, HSE aims to ensure businesses remain accountable for managing chemical risks in a way that is effective, proportionate, and adaptable to change.
A strategic commitment to progress
The reforms are in line with HSE’s long-term strategy, Protecting People and Places: 2022–2032, which commits the regulator to evolving its approach to keep pace with social, political, environmental, and technological developments. The new chemicals framework represents a tangible step towards that goal, reflecting both the regulator’s safety mission and the Government’s wider ambition to drive productivity and innovation through smarter regulation.
Implementation of the changes will require legislative action, and HSE is working closely with stakeholders and government departments to ensure a smooth transition. The new framework is expected to result in a clearer, more responsive, and less burdensome system and one that balances the need for robust regulation with the imperative to boost economic growth and scientific progress.
In doing so, HSE seeks to future-proof its role as a world-class regulator: one that protects people and the environment, while enabling the UK’s chemical industry to thrive in a competitive and fast-changing global landscape.
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