UK: Reforms to the CLP, PIC, and Biocidal Products Regulations Now in Effect

The Chemicals (Health and Safety) (Amendment, Consequential and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2026 came into force on April 30. For companies, the legislation primarily brings a more flexible UK CLP system and fewer administrative obligations. At the same time, the risk of regulatory divergences between the UK and the EU is growing.

With this Statutory Instrument (SI 2026/484), the UK implements its post-Brexit chemicals policy and amends key chemicals legislation such as the CLP, Biocidal Products, and PIC Regulations. The government aims to make procedures more efficient.

Changes in the CLP Regulation

Article 37 of the UK CLP Regulation is being replaced. With this change, the UK establishes its own evaluation model, which gives the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) more discretion, for example, in prioritizing substances or in deciding which foreign evaluations to adopt and which procedures to expedite.
A Fast-Track Proposal system is being introduced. It will allow the adoption of new harmonized classifications much more quickly in the future, for example those from Australia, Canada, the United States, or the EU. The HSE will not have to re-evaluate every dossier. Companies must now respond more quickly to new UK classifications, labeling, and updates to safety data sheets (SDS) and revise labels, SDS, and packaging more frequently. At the same time, however, the system becomes more predictable and administratively efficient.
The elimination of GB Notification Database elements reduces the reporting and maintenance burden for companies, especially those with many substances or frequent portfolio changes.

Changes in the Biocidal Products Regulation

By replacing Article 14(5) with its own provisions, the UK keeps a group of authorized active substances available on the domestic market until July 31, 2031 – provided that the HSE has received an application for an extension of the authorization. Overall, this change provides companies with greater legal certainty, a lower risk of regulatory gaps in the event of delays, and better strategic planning capabilities through 2031.
Article 55(1) is also being replaced. It governs continued market presence when a risk to public health, animal health, or the environment exists. For companies, the new regulations mean they are no longer bound by the emergency criteria and deadlines of the EU regulation. Instead, biocidal products may remain on the market until a decision on authorization is made, which can take up to 550 days.

Changes under the PIC Regulation

Provisions in Articles 2, 14, 19, and 23 are repealed. These additional conditions were intended to apply only to certain chemicals. As a result of these amendments, the same conditions now apply to all chemicals whose importation requires prior consent.
In the context of precisely defined exceptions or standard cases, which have been simplified for regulatory purposes, exporters are no longer required to obtain a PIC reference number and include it in the export declaration.

We would be happy to advise you on chemical regulations in the UK. Please contact us at sales@kft.de or use our contact form