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
Trade
The Brexit trade deal: what it means for the UK’s protection from hazardous chemicals
Following the finalisation of a new Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom, CHEM Trust's initial assessment is that this agreement does not adequately protect human health and the environment in the UK from hazardous chemicals. This is because it doesn't retain UK access to the EU's chemicals regulation system REACH. The agreement … [Read more...] about The Brexit trade deal: what it means for the UK’s protection from hazardous chemicals
Michael Gove claimed it would be ‘better’, but in reality the UK’s BREACH is in crisis
At the start of September, the UK Government announced changes to the framework for its post-Brexit chemicals regulatory system, British REACH, or ‘BREACH’ *, which will deregulate the new system before it has even started to operate. Chemical and other companies have been complaining about the cost and burden of having to re-register their chemicals in BREACH, which they … [Read more...] about Michael Gove claimed it would be ‘better’, but in reality the UK’s BREACH is in crisis
Future EU-UK cooperation on chemicals: analysing the UK’s proposal
On the 19th May, the UK Government published its draft legal text for a free trade agreement with the EU, along with a number of annexes, including one on chemicals. This annex leaves open the possibility of sharing chemical safety data, which we view as positive; though it provides no clues as to what preconditions the UK would be prepared to accept in return for such access. … [Read more...] about Future EU-UK cooperation on chemicals: analysing the UK’s proposal
Brexit and Chemicals: Potential future partnership arrangements between the UK and ECHA
At the end of January 2020 the UK left the EU and entered a 'transition' period where EU laws continue to apply in the UK, while negotiations are underway to agree a long-term trade agreement. CHEM Trust's analysis is that the best outcome for chemicals regulation in both the UK and EU is for the UK to remain close to the EU's REACH chemicals regulatory system and the EU … [Read more...] about Brexit and Chemicals: Potential future partnership arrangements between the UK and ECHA
UK MPs quiz CHEM Trust and others on concerns about planned UK REACH
A future UK REACH regime will be a “hollow shell” and will not be able to replicate the EU’s protections post-Brexit, said CHEM Trust in its evidence to a hearing in the UK Parliament on 12th March. Dr Michael Warhurst, CHEM Trust’s Executive Director, gave evidence to the public bill committee that has been set up to scrutinise the Environment Bill - alongside Nishma Patel, … [Read more...] about UK MPs quiz CHEM Trust and others on concerns about planned UK REACH
How a US-UK trade deal threatens our protection from hazardous chemicals
Update: Today (27th November) government documents were leaked detailing meetings between the Department of International Trade and US officials in which regulatory cooperation was discussed. A central tenet of Brexit has long been the promise of free trade agreements for the UK outside the EU. Specifically, a US-UK trade deal is trumpeted as the single biggest economic … [Read more...] about How a US-UK trade deal threatens our protection from hazardous chemicals
CHEM Trust challenges UK Government on Brexit pesticides plans
The UK Government has claimed that it would not weaken EU environmental laws when transferring them into UK law in the event of a no-deal Brexit, with Secretary of State Michael Gove stating that "We will deliver a Green Brexit, where environmental standards are not only maintained but enhanced". However, CHEM Trust's analysis is that this pledge has been broken, and instead … [Read more...] about CHEM Trust challenges UK Government on Brexit pesticides plans
Brexit progress? Draft Political Declaration mentions EU chemicals agency ECHA
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 'will … [Read more...] about Brexit progress? Draft Political Declaration mentions EU chemicals agency ECHA
Conservative Party Conference: What does it mean for chemical policy and Brexit?
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 … [Read more...] about Conservative Party Conference: What does it mean for chemical policy and Brexit?
