Yesterday evening the UK House of Commons debated and narrowly approved the REACH Statutory Instrument (SI) which attempts to copy the EU’s REACH chemicals regulation into domestic UK law and create a new UK Chemicals Agency in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Heavy criticisms of the SI were made from a cross-party group of [...]
REACH
Today saw the publication of a draft Political Declaration, setting out the framework for a future relationship between the EU and the UK. The declaration, which will guide negotiations following the UK’s departure from the EU, includes a commitment to ‘explore the possibility of co-operation of the UK with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)‘, and states that [...]
The UK Conservative Party Conference this week was dominated by the major hurdles of Brexit, chiefly the Irish border, immigration policy and trade. However, chemicals continued to feature in discussions across the conference, from small fringe events on environment and trade up to the main stage address from Environment Minister Michael Gove. The deep divisions [...]
Today, Monday 24th of September, the UK Government published papers on how the UK plans to transfer EU chemicals law REACH into UK law in the event of a no-deal exit from the EU. In line with other policy areas, on REACH the UK Government plans to copy across the EU law and only modify it [...]
The UK Government today published a White Paper spelling out its Brexit strategy and CHEM Trust welcomes its reaffirmation that the UK will be seeking ‘active’ participation in the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and the linked REACH chemicals regulatory system. The UK Government’s proposals address two of the three preconditions that we believe will be necessary for [...]
In CHEM Trust’s view the UK should aim to remain in the EU’s world-leading chemicals regulatory system REACH and the EU Chemicals Agency ECHA, whatever the final outcome of Brexit. The UK Prime Minister has spoken of ‘Associate Membership’ of ECHA, but it’s not yet clear what this means. The UK Parliament has just finished [...]
In its Plastics Strategy, published in January this year, the EU Commission announced it had tasked ECHA to collect background information and review the scientific basis for taking regulatory action at the EU level regarding intentionally added microplastics in products. CHEM Trust has participated in the first step of the process by responding to ECHA’s call [...]
UK confirms it would like to remain in EU chemicals law REACH, but will it meet the EU’s conditions?
In a speech on Friday March 2nd the UK Prime Minister Theresa May stated that the UK wished to discuss the possibility of remaining part of the EU chemicals agency ECHA after Brexit. CHEM Trust welcomes this announcement, but it is important to realise that the other EU governments (the EU27) will inevitably set specific conditions [...]
On Thursday 1st February, UK politicians gathered in Westminster Hall to debate the future of UK chemical regulations after Brexit. A strong case was made for the business, health and environmental benefits of staying in the EU’s world-leading chemicals regulation system REACH. The Chair of the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee (EAC), Mary Creagh [...]
Today, the 16th January 2018, the EU Commission released its long-expected Plastics Strategy. The Strategy includes an announcement that the Commission has started the process to ban both intentionally added microplastics and oxo-degradable plastics. Both these bans will be implemented as Restrictions under the EU’s main chemicals law REACH. The Commission also announced a a [...]
