UK REACH - Understanding Company Responsibilities & Obligations

Jenny has a decade of experience working within EU REACH and consequently UK REACH regulations in industry, trade associations and consultancy. In her current role, Jenny provides strategic support to clients navigating their obligations under UK REACH.

After completing his PhD in 1989, Chris joined ICI where he worked under David Cadogan on the development of novel plasticisers for PVC. He then joined the European Vinyls Corporation, where he worked under Mike Hitch on the development of E-PVC resins for “low liquids” formulations in flooring and wallcovering and “low fog/low emission” resins for automotive applications. This included ensuring food contact compliance and this responsibility was extended across the whole EVC range in 1996.

With the advent of the REACH regulation and changes brought about by INEOS’ acquisition of EVC in 2001, Chris moved into a full-time compliance role and managed the REACH registration of the INEOS Chlorvinyls range in 2010. He then took on the role of head of product compliance for INOVYN when it was formed in 2015. Since then he is head of a team responsible for over 100 REACH dossiers, including ten lead registrant roles, and ensuring that the products meet regulatory requirements under a variety of regulations including the EU Biocidal Products Regulation, Ozone Depleting Substances regulations, the Prior Informed Consent regulation and a variety of global initiatives such as the Stockholm and Rotterdam conventions. He also recently and chaired the Plastics Europe team covering future polymer registration under the EU REACH regulation.

Chris is a chartered chemist and fellow of the UK Royal Society of Chemistry and a fellow of the UK Institute of Metallurgy, Materials and Mining (IOM3). He has published several reviews on regulatory affairs in various journals and recently authored a review of plasticisers in the Kirk-Othmer Encyclopaedia of Chemical Technology.

Mike has worked in the Health and Safety Executive for 32 years in 2 spells, split by a period of consultancy with TSG Consulting. His current role is leading the Case Management and Official Control Regulation Teams within the Enforcement team of CRD, he has also led on Enforcement Policy and Strategy. Prior that that he worked on UK REACH Helpdesk.

Before the UK left the EU Mike was the UK Representative of ECHA’s Enforcement Forum for 10 years and, prior to that, the Helpnet forum of Member State Helpdesk representatives.
Mike has a degree in Chemistry and a Masters in Analytical Science.

Tom is an environmental and sustainability professional with over 15 years’ experience in the field of product sustainability. Tom has worked across consultancy, industry and trade associations and has experience in leading and supporting large multi-national companies, across a number of different sectors, meet their obligations under EU and UK chemical legislation. Tom’s recent focus has been on authorisation and restriction of substances, particularly managing the submissions of Application for Authorisations (AfA) across pharmaceutical, manufacturing, and aerospace industries, and assessing the impact of the proposed EU PFAS restriction.

Tom Gillett advises clients on a wide range of environmental law with a focus on chemicals regulation and product regimes (including REACH, biocides, food contact, product standards and CE/UKCA marking) in both the EU and the UK.

With a background in complex and contentious environmental law, Tom is well placed to help clients navigate regulatory compliance, data sharing, consortium management and supply chain due diligence, as well as regulatory investigations, appeals and tribunal hearings.

The Legal 500 UK, 2022 quotes one client as saying: “I have worked with Tom Gillett and have found him to be diligent and knowledgeable in this developing area. As well as providing clear advice on a one to one basis, I also find his contributions in seminars and panel discussions useful and valuable.”