HSA Brexit Guide (Ireland Brexit)

From 30th March 2019, the UK will become a “third country”. The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) is the Competent Authority for a range of EU Regulations and Directive in Ireland.

The HSA has now issued a Brexit Overview document – here.

Cardinal Environment will be setting up a Brexit Law List for Ireland EHS Legislation Systems and Checklists, shortly. We will place this and other guidance on that list.

This HSA Brexit Overview reminds :

(1) Products imported from the UK from 30 March 2019 need to be EU compliant.

(2) Irish companies need to know the full supply chain for all their products (for example machinery, chemicals) and how it is linked to the UK or NI, including via distributors.

(3) Unless Irish companies can source their product from another EU supplier, the Irish company may become an EU importer after Brexit, with additional legal responsibility for compliance of the product with EU law. I posted about this recently.

(4) After Brexit, Irish companies will no longer be able to rely on notified bodies based in the UK to undertake 3rd party conformity assessments required under relevant EU law. They will need to source a notified body legally designated to carry out conformity assessments in the EU27.

This applies to Chemicals, Machinery, Transportable Pressure Equipment, and other classes of Industrial Products.

The above also applies in the rest of the EU27, and in the EEA.

Sourcing Products from the UK (Ireland Brexit)

The Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation (Ireland) has (5th Feb) reminded companies in Ireland sourcing products from the UK that they will take additional responsibilities as EU importers after Brexit. Here

In this communication, the Minister of State for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection, Pat Breen TD said “Before the UK leaves the EU, it is critical that businesses assess all aspects of their potential exposure. After Brexit, companies in Ireland will no longer be able to rely on UK-based Notified Bodies to undertake third party conformity assessments required under relevant EU law. They will instead need to source an EU-based Notified Body legally designated to carry conformity assessments. A list of Notified Bodies is available on the EU ‘NANDO’ website”.

Irish businesses are also advised that

• Products imported from the UK post-Brexit need to be EU compliant.

• Businesses need to understand the vulnerabilities in their supply chains. They need to know the full supply chain for all their products (machinery, chemicals, etc.) and how it is linked to the UK, including via distributors.

• Irish companies sourcing their product from the UK after Brexit may become an EU importer with additional legal responsibilities for compliance of the product with EU law.

• When UK leaves, UK registrations, authorization or notifications under REACH and CLP will not be valid. This means the role of businesses in Ireland may change from being a downstream user of chemicals to an importer.

The communication references the useful EU issued Q&A for Businesses (industrial products) – here.

Ireland Government Brexit Update (Ireland)

The Irish Government issues (today) 16th February 2018 its first Government Brexit Update. This is here.

In this Update (Issue No 1), the Irish Government identifies its Brexit Priorities, latest Government Brexit Engagements, the launch of a new Government Brexit website, and various other initiatives and preparations underway.

The Ireland Government Brexit website is here.

[please note this Ireland post is categorised Brexit – UK Brexit posts are differently categorised in Referendum Outcome (UK)]