Manufacturing & Engineering UK-wide

Which rubber and plastic manufacturing regulations apply to your business

Every rubber and plastics manufacturer shares the same workplace-safety and chemicals foundation, then the rules diverge by what you make and whether you place products on the market or produce packaging.

Guide summary

Start with basic health and safety rules that apply to all rubber and plastic manufacturers. Then check if you need to follow extra rules for products you sell or packaging you make. Use the compliance checklist to make sure you have covered everything before you start production.

  • Follow the universal spine for health and safety, COSHH, and UK REACH
  • If you place products on the market, do conformity assessment and apply UKCA or CE marking
  • If you make plastic packaging, register for packaging producer responsibility (EPR)
  • Pay Plastic Packaging Tax if you make 10 tonnes or more of plastic packaging per year
  • Follow the rules for each product type you make — windows, tyres, food packaging, or general goods
  • Use the rubber and plastics manufacturer compliance checklist before each production run
  • HSE enforces rules in Great Britain; HSENI enforces rules in Northern Ireland
  • Unlimited fines and up to 2 years in prison for serious health and safety breaches
On this page

Related guides in Health & Safety

Structural works compliance checklist

Pre-start checklist for structural works covering demolition notices, asbestos surveys, temporary works design, excavation permits, LOLER examinations, and …

Excavation and foundation safety

HSE requirements for safe excavation and foundation work on construction sites. Covers trench support systems, edge protection, safe …

Processing rubber and plastics is machinery- and chemical-intensive. The workplace health and safety duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 apply to you, and the substances you use are subject to UK REACH. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) regulates in Great Britain and HSENI in Northern Ireland.

Beyond that shared foundation, the rules diverge by whether you place products on the market or produce packaging.

What you need to do

Identify the description that best fits what you make. If more than one applies — for example you make plastic packaging and also place builders' ware on the market — follow every obligation that applies.

  1. 1

    Every rubber and plastics manufacturer

    Whatever you make, start with the universal spine. Follow "Set up and run a safe rubber or plastics factory" for your health and safety, COSHH controls, work equipment, manual handling, fire safety, insurance, equality, data protection and your UK REACH duties on the substances you use.

  2. 2

    You place products on the market

    Plastic builders' ware (windows, pipes, cladding), tyres, food-contact articles and packaging, or general plastic goods. These need conformity assessment, the right product-safety regime and — where one applies — conformity marking (UKCA, or CE which is still accepted on the GB market) before sale. Follow "Place rubber and plastic products on the market".

  3. 3

    You produce plastic packaging

    If you make plastic packaging (SIC 22.22), you have reporting and tax duties on top of product rules: packaging producer responsibility (EPR) and, at 10 tonnes a year, the Plastic Packaging Tax. Follow "Meet packaging producer responsibility and Plastic Packaging Tax".

  4. 4

    Confirm you have covered everything

    Whatever you make, finish with the rubber and plastics manufacturer compliance checklist to confirm your obligations are met before a production run.

Official sources

Authoritative starting points for rubber and plastics manufacturing.