Darren Abrahams
Darren enables clients throughout the chemicals and life sciences supply chain to get and keep their products on the European market (both in the UK and the EU).
He provides a global clientele (companies, consortia and trade associations) with strategic advice, undertakes advocacy before public authorities and agencies and litigates before courts and tribunals (including the ECHA board of appeal and CJEU).
Darren has a wealth of experience with regulation of biocidal products, plant protection products, REACH, CLP, food and feed, GMOs and wider aspects of environmental law, including extensive work with the Aarhus convention.
Chambers & Partners Europe-wide Regulatory (2020) recognizes his environment and Agro/Food practice, quoting clients’ praise: “exceptional expertise on…regulations on chemicals…and a great ability to understand the complexity of business.” “When it comes to things like REACH and chemicals law, he is the best” and “provides the complete package of client attention and partnership” (2023).
Legal 500 Europe (2025) notes his “…huge experience, ability to look at the whole picture, explain complex subject matter in a really understandable manner, analyse from different points of view” (2025).
Practice Area
Panel
- Contributing Author
Qualified Year
- 1999
Membership
- American Chamber of Commerce to the EU
- Bar European Group
- UK Environmental Law Association
Qualifications
- Bar Vocational Course (BVC (1998-1999)
- LL.M Environmental Law (1997-1998)
- LLB (1993-1997)
Education
- BBP Law School (1998-1999)
- University College London (1997-1998)
- University College London (1993-1997)
3 Contributions by Darren Abrahams
PRACTICE NOTES
UK REACH (Assimilated Regulation (EC) 1907/2006): snapshot of scope, registration, supply chain duties, evaluation/authorisation/restrictions, enforcement, assimilated law status, Northern Ireland (Windsor Framework) application, divergence and recent developments
Assimilated Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (UK REACH)
In force from 1 January 2021
Transposition deadline: N/A
Amending documents: TBC
Annex amendments: TBC
Subject: Environment; chemical products
What is UK REACH?
'REACH' is the shortened title for Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council, which covers the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals.
Before REACH, there were worries that the risks from chemicals used and sold in the EU were not being sufficiently controlled or examined, and that the entire responsibility for doing so sat with public authorities.
REACH set out to tackle this by moving the duty to demonstrate understanding and to manage chemical risks appropriately to those manufacturing and/or importing chemicals and goods that contain them (i.e. industry).
In addition, REACH aims to:
secure a high level of protection of human health and the environment
enable the free movement of substances on the EU market
strengthen the competitiveness and innovation of the EU chemicals industry, and
...
Environment
PRACTICE NOTES
UK REACH and Waste: Exclusions, End-of-Waste, By-products, Assimilated Law, Devolved Arrangements, SCIP, and the Windsor Framework
Introduction to UK REACH
‘REACH’ is the shortened name for Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council, which governs the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals. Before REACH came into effect, there were concerns that the risks arising from chemicals placed on the EU market were not being properly controlled or thoroughly investigated, and that the entire responsibility for this fell on public authorities. REACH set out to remedy these issues by moving the onus for demonstrating understanding of, and effectively managing, chemical risks to those manufacturing and/or importing chemicals and articles containing them (i.e. industry). In addition, REACH seeks to:
secure a high degree of protection for human health and the environment
enable the free movement of substances within the EU market
enhance the competitiveness and innovation of the EU chemicals industry
promote alternative methods for assessing hazardous properties of substances, such as quantitative structure–activity relationships
At 11 pm (UK time) on 31 December 2020, REACH was copied onto the UK statute book as ‘retained direct EU legislation’ under the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018...
Environment
PRACTICE NOTES
UK REACH registration: GB regime, Northern Ireland under EU REACH (Windsor Framework), assimilated law, scope, exemptions, transitional and joint submissions, dossier duties, and 2025 fees.
Introduction to UK REACH
REACH is the shorthand for Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and the Council, covering the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals.
Before REACH, there were concerns that the risks from chemicals placed on the EU market were not being sufficiently managed or investigated, and that the entire burden fell on public authorities.
REACH sought to correct this by shifting responsibility to those who manufacture and/or import chemicals and articles containing them, requiring industry to demonstrate understanding of hazards and to manage risks appropriately.
ensure a high level of protection for human health and the environment
facilitate the free movement of substances within the EU market
boost the competitiveness and innovation of the EU chemicals sector
encourage alternative methods to assess hazardous properties, such as quantitative structure-activity relationships
At 11 pm (UK time) on 31 December 2020, REACH was transposed onto the UK statute book as retained direct EU legislation under the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018...
Environment
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