HSE Chemicals Legislative Reform Proposals

Overview

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) undertakes a wide range of regulatory functions fundamental to enabling a safe and healthy workplace. We are dedicated to protecting people and places and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives. Our role goes beyond worker protection to include public assurance. We work to ensure people feel safe where they live, where they work and in their environment which we achieve in part through our role as the appointed authority to regulate chemicals.

Great Britain (GB) has one of the best workplace health and safety performances in the world and achieves some of the lowest rates of occupational injury and fatality in Europe.

HSE’s work supports innovation, productivity and economic growth in GB and businesses that adopt effective, proportionate health and safety practices increase productivity and employee engagement. HSE’s strategy – Protecting people and places: HSE strategy 2022 to 2032 – commits HSE to reviewing its regulatory framework to keep pace with social, political, environmental and technological developments.

This consultation document is issued by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in line with the Government’s Consultation Principles for consulting with stakeholders. It outlines the proposals for changes to HSE led chemicals policy and seeks views on: Biocides, Classification, Labelling and Packaging, and the export and import of hazardous chemicals (Prior Informed Consent).

The consultation is in direct support of a key commitment made by the Prime Minister as part of the Government’s Policy paper New Approach to ensure regulators and regulation support growth which is an Action Plan that nests into the broader Government Mission to Kickstart Economic Growth. These changes to the HSE-led areas of the Chemicals Framework should result in reducing costs to business. HSE will need to make these changes through an appropriate legislative route that may give rise to new legislative powers.

How to submit responses

This consultation will last for 8 weeks from 23 June 2025 until 18 August 2025. Responses must be received by 23:59 on 18 August 2025.

You can respond in three ways:

1. Complete the online survey below (our preferred option for ease of analysis)
2. Download the Word document version of this consultation and email it to chemicals.reform@hse.gov.uk
3. Download the Word document version of this consultation and send it to:
   Consultation on HSE Chemicals Legislative Reform
   Health and Safety Executive 
   Building 2.3 Redgrave Court
   Merton Road
   Bootle
   Merseyside L20 7HS

If you require a more accessible format of this document, please send details to HSE.Online@hse.gov.uk and your request will be considered.

Once the consultation closes

When the consultation has closed, HSE will consider the views expressed and may further refine the proposals for chemicals legislative reform. A summary of HSE’s responses to the views expressed by stakeholders will be published alongside the consultation response. Further communications will be issued for interested parties in advance of any regulatory changes coming into force.