The European Commission has adopted a revised REACH Fee Regulation, introducing significant changes to chemical registration and authorisation procedures. The new regulation includes innovations such as a mandatory pre-verification for SMEs and increased fees for large companies.
The regulation will enter into force 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU. The ex-ante verification system will become applicable 15 months after the entry into force. Until that date, the current SME verification procedure will remain valid.
Fee Increase
According to the revised REACH Fee Regulation, standard fees and charges for large companies will increase by 19.5%. This increase is based on the average annual inflation rate in Europe for 2021–2023 and applies only to large enterprises to preserve the competitiveness of SMEs. The updated fees will take effect on 5 November 2025.
While reflecting overall economic conditions, the fee increase also aims to reduce the financial burden on smaller businesses. This approach maintains SMEs’ market position while increasing the expected contribution rate from large companies.
New Requirements for SMEs
Starting from 5 February 2027:
- SMEs must apply for company size verification at least two months before submitting a REACH registration or authorisation application.
- If this step is not completed, reduced fees cannot be applied.
- Once ECHA receives the necessary documents, it will respondwithin two months to confirm the SME status. If ECHA does not recognise the applicant’s SME status, it may charge an administrative fee determined by ECHA’s Management Board.
The new pre-verification system will clarify a company’s status in advance, simplifying ECHA’s evaluation process and reducing administrative burdens caused by incorrect declarations.
Validity and Renewal of SME Status
- The approved SME status will be valid for three years from the date of ECHA’s decision.
- If there is no change in company size, the first renewal can be completed through a self-declaration, initiated two months before the validity expires.
This system eliminates the need for SMEs to submit extensive documentation for each application, saving both time and costs.
To facilitate the transition to the new system, ECHA will gradually publish guidance documents to support companies in preparing for the SME verification process. These guides are expected to provide practical information on required documentation, timelines, and common mistakes.
You can review the REACH Fee Regulation here.
Fill out the form to start preparing your documentation.
