Use this checklist to confirm that your chemical manufacturing business meets its obligations before a production run. Work through each item and answer yes or no. If you answer no to any item, follow the linked guide for that regime before you proceed. The product and market rules apply when you place substances or products on the GB market; in Northern Ireland the EU rules apply under the Windsor Framework, so check the NI position separately.
Substances and products on the market
Confirm the registration, classification and authorisation rules for what you make are met.
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1
UK REACH registration
Have you registered each substance you manufacture at one tonne a year or more with the UK REACH service, and prepared the safety data sheets you must supply down the chain? UK REACH applies in Great Britain; in Northern Ireland, EU REACH applies under the Windsor Framework, so check the NI position separately.
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2
GB CLP classification, labelling and packaging
Have you classified each substance and mixture for its hazards, applied the correct CLP label (pictograms, signal word, and hazard and precautionary statements), and confirmed the packaging is safe and compliant?
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3
Product authorisation, if applicable
If you make biocides, plant protection products or cosmetics, have you obtained the required authorisation or notification before placing the product on the GB market?
Major-hazard, environmental and explosives controls
If your site holds dangerous substances, runs a permitted installation or handles explosives, confirm the site-based controls are in place.
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1
COMAH duties, if applicable
If your site holds qualifying quantities of dangerous substances, do you hold a major-accident prevention policy, have you notified the Competent Authority, and, for an upper-tier site, produced the safety report and on-site emergency plan?
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2
Environmental permit
If you run a chemical installation on an industrial scale, do you hold a current environmental permit from the Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales, SEPA or NIEA for your nation?
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3
DSEAR assessment and zoning
Have you assessed fire and explosion risks under DSEAR, classified hazardous areas into zones, and selected and maintained equipment that is safe to use in them?
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4
Explosives licence, if applicable
If you make or store explosives, do you hold the required licence under the Explosives Regulations 2014, and are the precursor supply controls in place where they apply?
Workplace health and safety
Whatever you make, confirm the core workplace duties are met. Chemical manufacture is high-hazard, so these duties carry real weight.
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1
COSHH assessment and control
Have you assessed exposure to the hazardous substances you handle, put controls in place to prevent or reduce that exposure, and arranged the monitoring and health surveillance required?
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2
General health and safety duties
Are you meeting your general duty to protect the health, safety and welfare of your employees and others affected by the work, with the assessments, equipment controls and arrangements that involves?
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3
Supporting workplace duties
Have you also covered the related workplace duties — safe work equipment under PUWER, manual handling, fire safety, employers' liability insurance, equality duties and ICO data protection registration — that apply to every business?
If you answered no to any item
Do not proceed with a production run until you have closed the gap. For registration, classification and product authorisation, see the guide on placing chemical substances and products on the GB market. For COMAH, environmental permits, DSEAR and explosives, see the guide on operating a safe chemical manufacturing site. If you are not sure which regimes apply, see the guide on which chemical regulations apply to your products and site, or confirm it with the relevant regulator before you commit.
Official sources
Statutory sources and regulators for the chemical manufacturing sector