The Blog

The European Commission has proposed significant amendments to the REACH Fee Regulation (EC) No 340/2008. This proposed amendment introduces inflation-indexed fee increases and a new system to verify SME status.

Key highlights from this proposed amendment:

• Standard REACH fees will rise by 19.5% to reflect inflation from 2021–2023. These cover core regulatory processes like registration, updates, and authorisation. Crucially, SMEs are exempt from these increases to preserve competitiveness.
• New SME Verification System: The Commission suggested advance SME verification, replacing the current retrospective checks. Under suggested process, companies will need to confirm SME status two months before fee-triggering actions. Valid for three years, the verification will span all EU chemicals legislation, not only REACH , promoting consistency and reducing disputes.
• Once adopted, the revised regulation will take effect 20 days after publication in the official journal of the European Union, but the SME verification requirements come into force 15 months later, giving businesses time to adapt.

This major proposed update reflects the EU’s drive to future-proof chemical regulation, ensuring sustainable financing for ECHA while streamlining compliance for smaller players in the chemicals sector.

Any submissions pending at the time of entry into force will be governed by the current rules, providing continuity and clarity during the transition period. The REACH Committee is  reviewing the proposal through a written procedure, after which the Commission may adopt it.