1. Overview
Companies exporting PIC-listed chemicals from Great Britain (GB) are required to notify to HSE exports of:
- any chemical listed in Part 1 of the GB PIC list
- mixtures that contain any of these Part 1 chemicals in a concentration that triggers an obligation to label under GB CLP Chemical classification overview
- articles that contain in unreacted form either:
- a chemical listed in Part 2 or Part 3 of the GB PIC list
- mixtures that contain these chemicals in a concentration that triggers labelling obligations under GB CLP Regulation
Companies should notify their exports to HSE as the GB PIC Designated National Authority (DNA):
- for each substance, mixture or article to each importing country. This applies irrespective of the intended use in the importing country
- at least 35 days before the first export in any calendar year to any importing country. They must then notify at least 35 days before every first export to each importing country in each subsequent calendar year
- by completing a GB PIC export notification. The forms are similar to those used under European Union (EU) PIC
Exports
For exports to the EU, a single notification will cover exports of that product going to any EU member state or supply to Northern Ireland.
Special procedures apply to PIC in cases of:
- emergency - here an emergency export notification may be submitted in cases of public health or environmental emergency where delay could worsen the situation in the destination country. The usual requirement to submit the notification 35 days prior to export does not apply, and emergency notifications are not subject to the explicit consent procedure. Please provide further details of the emergency situation with your submission of the export notification form
- Special reference identification number requests (Special RIN) - where those chemicals are exported for research or development in quantities of up to 10 kilograms per year to each importing country
Find out more in our guidance on Special RIN: export of GB PIC chemicals for research or analysis.
In addition to notifying exports, companies exporting PIC listed chemicals from GB are obliged to:
- report yearly quantities of each PIC listed chemical exported during the previous calendar year. Find out more about GB PIC annual reporting
- comply with general export requirements - chemicals that are intended for export must be packaged and labelled in the same way as if they were to be marketed in the GB unless the importing country has its own specific requirements, also considering relevant international standards
Companies may also wish to check with the relevant authorities in the importing country whether they have any existing national laws or restrictions for the import of their chemicals into a country.
Explicit consent waivers
For some chemicals the explicit consent of the importing country is required before export can take place, and HSE as the GB PIC DNA seeks this consent on behalf of the exporter. But, in certain circumstances, a valid positive explicit consent response from importing country can be waived.
Find out more in our guidance on waivers.