Find our guidance for chemical manufacturers in:
England on Business Link: Chemicals manufacturing
Northern Ireland on NIBusinessInfo: Chemicals manufacturing
Scotland on Business Gateway: Chemicals manufacturing
Wales on Business.Wales.gov.uk: Chemicals manufacturing
Our guidance has moved to these websites as part of the government programme to centralise online guidance for businesses. Read more about the changes to NetRegs.
If you use, rather than manufacture chemicals or chemical products see our chemical storage guidance or specific guidance for your business sector.
Chemical storage
Guidance by business
If you are a rubber or plastics business you should read our guidance on manufacturing rubber and plastic products.
Rubber and plastic products
Comply with REACH
If you manufacture, import or use chemical substances or chemical products or preparations, including as a mixture or solution, you must comply with the REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals) Regulation.
You may need to register the chemicals you manufacture, or import from outside the EU, in quantities of one tonne or more per calendar year with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). If you manufacture or import a product you may need to register the individual chemical ingredients. Specific deadlines for registration apply.
If you are a chemical manufacturing or importing business see our guidance on complying with REACH.
Complying with REACH in chemicals manufacturing
If you are a user of chemicals see our general guidance on the REACH Regulation.
REACH Regulation - manufacturing, importing, selling and using chemicals
Environmental impacts of chemicals manufacturing businesses
Chemicals manufacturing businesses can have a number of impacts on the environment. Examples include:
- air emissions produced by chemical reactions during manufacturing, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and greenhouse gases, especially hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and nitrous oxide
- fossil fuel use, such as gas and oil used as raw materials in chemicals production and from energy used to provide heat and pressure during processing
- land contamination from bulk chemical or oil storage areas and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from electrical equipment
- noise pollution from processing plant and machinery and the movement of materials and goods to and from site
- waste disposal, such as process by-products and residues, spent catalysts, spent solvents, effluent treatment sludges, and contaminated chemical containers
- water pollution from accidental spills, equipment cleaning or effluent treatment processes containing increased levels of contaminants such as heavy metals, hydrocarbons, resins or solvents.
Sut gall NetRegs eich helpu chi?
Medrai ein cyfarwyddyd eich helpu i:
- osgoi cael eich erlyn a derbyn llai o ymweliadau oddi wrth reolyddion amgylcheddol
- cynyddu effeithlonrwydd a chynhyrchiant
- cwtogi ar eich costau gweithredu
- bod yn fwy tebygol o gaffael busnes o gyrff llywodraethol a busnesau mawr sy’n mynnu fod eu partneriaid busnes yn rheoli eu heffeithiau amgylcheddol mewn dull effeithiol
- gwella enw da eich busnes ymhlith y staff, cwsmeriaid a’r cyhoedd
- gwella’r siawns o ennill noddiant er mwyn ehangu eich busnes drwy arddangos fod eich effeithiau ar yr amgylchedd yn cael eu rheoli’n dda.
