The UK last left the EU

The UK has left the EU, leading to changes in rules and procedures for some industries.

Your duty to protect the health and safety of those affected by your work activities remains unchanged.

Retained EU Law and Health and Safety law

Retained EU Law (REUL) is a category of domestic law created at the end of the transition period following Brexit. It is made up of EU legislation that the UK retained when leaving the EU.

HSE identified 38 pieces of REUL that were redundant and revoked at the end of 2023.

The Government has published a Schedule of retained EU law - GOV.UK that will be revoked at the end of 2023. HSE regulations are listed alongside regulations in its parent department, the Department for Work and Pensions.

Any Health and Safety regulations that are not listed on the Schedule of retained EU law - GOV.UK for revocation will remain as UK law.

The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 is available in full.

A list of all identified retained EU law is available on Retained EU law dashboard - GOV.UK.

HSE chemicals legislative reform

HSE has the policy lead for 3 areas of chemicals legislation in Great Britain (GB):

classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures (GB CLP)
biocidal products regulations (GB BPR)
the export and import of hazardous chemicals (GB PIC)

These regulations are examples of direct-acting European Union (EU) legislation retained (as amended) in GB law following EU Exit, now known as assimilated law.

The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 introduced powers to reform assimilated law. In line with the government’s programme of ‘Smarter Regulation’, HSE is exploring opportunities to use powers in the act to reform assimilated law for chemicals to make it more proportionate for GB as a country outside the EU. These powers expire in June 2026, so any changes need to be made by then.

GB inherited the EU chemicals regulatory framework at the time of EU exit.

Legislative reform gives HSE the opportunity to:

optimise policies that benefit the British chemicals industry
make a regulatory system that is more suited to GB needs

We will look to reduce the regulatory burden to both duty holders and HSE as the regulator. Reforming the regulatory framework in GB will make it more proportionate to the needs of the GB market, whilst maintaining existing levels of health and environmental protection.

We will be working with a network of stakeholders to identify opportunities to reform HSE's chemicals supply regulations and assess the potential impact of those changes.

If you are a duty holder, or if you represent duty holders or other non-governmental organisations, and are interested in this work, email: [email protected].

Please give the name of your organisation and include any additional comments.

Further guidance on the regulations:

Biocides – authorisation of biocidal substances and products
CLP - classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures
PIC- prior informed consent for the export and import of certain hazardous chemicals
PPP – plant protection products (known as pesticides) authorisation
REACH - registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals

Placing goods on the market

Explosives and work equipment and machinery

Brexit has changed rules and procedures for other some. There is specific guidance for these industries and work activities:

Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland Protocol came into force on 1 January 2021. For as long as it is in force, Northern Ireland will align with relevant EU rules relating to the placing on the market of manufactured goods.

GOV.UK has guidance for: