At the end of March, rules to introduce new hazard classes for the classification, labelling and packaging of substances in the EU were published. This is a very important milestone towards much better protection from endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) as it also includes a new category of suspected endocrine disruptors. Until recently it has been unclear what action the … [Read more...] about How is the UK Government planning to tackle exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals?
Brexit
The UK’s plans for tackling PFAS pollution – are they good enough?
On 4th April 2023, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) published the long awaited PFAS Risk Management Option Analysis (RMOA) written in partnership with the Environment Agency (EA). The RMOA makes a number of recommendations that the UK Government will follow as announced in its Plan For Water published on the same day. … [Read more...] about The UK’s plans for tackling PFAS pollution – are they good enough?
What’s the plan for managing harmful chemicals in the UK?
Before the turmoil in British politics of the last couple of months, NGOs had hoped a draft UK Chemicals Strategy would be published for public consultation before the end of the year. A strategy was first promised over four years ago - to set out the UK’s approach, post-Brexit, to ensuring chemicals are safely used and managed. Over the past year stakeholders have been … [Read more...] about What’s the plan for managing harmful chemicals in the UK?
Chemical pollution in rivers: CHEM Trust’s fringe event at the Conservative Party Conference
CHEM Trust is co-hosting a fringe event at this year's Conservative Party Conference 'Restoring the health of our rivers: addressing the chemical pollution undermining their resilience'. We are running this in partnership with Breast Cancer UK and Wildlife and Countryside Link. The event will provide an opportunity to raise the topic of chemical pollution in rivers and … [Read more...] about Chemical pollution in rivers: CHEM Trust’s fringe event at the Conservative Party Conference
CHEM Trust’s fringe event on chemical pollution at the Autumn Labour Party Conference
CHEM Trust will be hosting a fringe event at the Labour Party Conference. 'The chemical pollution crisis: is the UK's post-Brexit regulation of chemicals fit for purpose?' This will be held in partnership with SERA, (Labour's Environment Campaign), Breast Cancer UK and Wildlife and Countryside Link. The event will be an opportunity to highlight the problem of chemical … [Read more...] about CHEM Trust’s fringe event on chemical pollution at the Autumn Labour Party Conference
Does the UK chemicals regulator have the capacity to do its job?
In May, the National Audit Office (NAO) published its review of three UK regulators that have taken on functions previously carried out by the EU, including the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE’s) role in chemicals regulation. It found that a lack of operational capacity and loss of data is having a negative impact on HSE’s ability to assess risks and carry out its … [Read more...] about Does the UK chemicals regulator have the capacity to do its job?
Regulatory gap between UK and EU at risk of becoming a chasm
Today the UK’s Health & Safety Executive published the work programme for UK REACH for the coming year (from April 2022 – March 2023), setting out which restrictions on chemicals will be considered by the new UK chemicals regulatory regime in its second year. Restrictions are a way of banning or controlling the use of a chemical that poses a risk to human health or the … [Read more...] about Regulatory gap between UK and EU at risk of becoming a chasm
UK Government proposes further delays in safety data for UK system, raising doubts on its viability
This week, after a 10-month wait, the UK Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs George Eustice has responded to a deregulatory push from industry to reduce the requirements for safety data on substances registered in UK REACH. The Government has announced it will develop a new data registration model in consultation with stakeholders. To “provide time for … [Read more...] about UK Government proposes further delays in safety data for UK system, raising doubts on its viability
UK NGOs outline 12 Key Asks for the UK Chemicals Strategy
Today CHEM Trust has written to the UK Government, alongside 26 UK public health and environmental NGOs, to outline 12 Key Asks that must be prioritised in the UK’s new Chemicals Strategy. If implemented, these asks would provide strong protection from hazardous chemicals for people, wildlife, and the environment. Synthetic chemicals are used in many different applications … [Read more...] about UK NGOs outline 12 Key Asks for the UK Chemicals Strategy
UK REACH restrictions: first signs of UK regulatory divergence on chemicals
Earlier this week, the UK Government provided the first concrete example of UK divergence from EU protections for the environment and public health from hazardous chemicals. It announced which restrictions on chemicals will be considered by the new UK chemicals regulatory regime (UK REACH - which covers England, Wales and Scotland) in its first year. Restrictions are a way … [Read more...] about UK REACH restrictions: first signs of UK regulatory divergence on chemicals
