Guidance

Comply with UK REACH: submit and manage chemical registrations and notifications

Use this service to submit and manage chemical registrations and notifications.

If you’re based in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) use this service to:

  • submit a new registration for a substance
  • notify that you’re going to continue importing EU REACH registered substances by submitting a Downstream User Import Notification (DUIN)
  • transfer your assets, such as registrations, to another legal entity
  • submit your Northern Ireland notification
  • manage joint registrations - claim the lead registrant role, submit a lead dossier and approve joint registration group members
  • manage your Product and Process Orientated Research and Development (PPORD) notification

Start now

Before you start

You’ll need a Government Gateway account and a Defra account to sign into this service.

If you don’t have a Government Gateway account, you can set one up when you use this service for the first time.

You must log in to your Government Gateway account at least once every 3 years. If you don’t, you’ll lose access to your account and its data.

Follow guidance on how to create a Government Gateway account and a Defra account to access the Comply with UK REACH service.

Make sure your substance information is in the correct format as i6z dossier files. You can use IUCLID 6 (or later) to create the files.

Read the UK REACH guidance on the  Health and Safety Executive (HSE) website.

Get help

For help using the Comply with UK REACH service call the UK Chemicals helpline.

UK Chemicals helpline
Telephone: 0330 159 1985
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (except public holidays)

Published 23 September 2015
Last updated 20 July 2023 + show all updates
  1. Added that users will need a Defra account to be able to use the Comply with UK REACH service and it can be set up when they first use the service. Added note that you must log in to your Government Gateway account every 3 years to retain access.

  2. Have removed previous sections: - Tonnage band deadlines - UK REACH for businesses in Northern Ireland

  3. We have removed guidance for grandfathering, downstream users, authorisation and restrictions as this information can be found on the Health and Safety Executive website. Joint registrations, substance groups and data sharing is now in a separate guide on gov.uk.

  4. Removed the 'Register a business or organisation for the Comply with UK REACH service (ODT, 13.5 KB)' and replaced with an accessible version.

  5. Information on DUIN added to ‘EU held registrations: GB downstream users’ section.

  6. Updated the Manage your chemicals on UK REACH section.

  7. You can now use the Comply with REACH service to manage joint registrations, including claiming the lead registrant role.

  8. The deadline for businesses based in Great Britain using EU REACH, to register with UK REACH (known as grandfathering) was 30 April 2021.

  9. Changes have been made to the attachment Register a business to comply with UK REACH services to reflect changes to the administration of child accounts.

  10. Updated the attached document for how to register a business or organisation on the Comply with UK REACH service. Including instructions on how to name 'child' accounts.

  11. Added the start button for the Comply with UK REACH service.

  12. Added new guidance on grandfathering, tonnage deadlines and how UK downstream users can notify the HSE, with links to complete guidance on the HSE.

  13. Updated to provide businesses more information on what they'll need to do to prepare for the 1 January 2021

  14. Added link to the process maps collection

  15. Added information on how to make, sell or import chemicals if the UK leaves the EU with no deal, and how to register on REACH after no deal.

  16. Added link to Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance on chemical regulations and preparing for Brexit. See 'Prepare for Brexit'.

  17. Amended link to registration support page.

  18. First published.