• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar

CHEM Trust

Protecting humans and wildlife from harmful chemicals

  • Home
    • Our policy site
    • Advice for consumers
  • About us
    • About CHEM Trust
    • CHEM Trust Europe
    • Our team
    • UK Trustees
    • Our funders
    • Contact
    • Jobs
    • Privacy Policy
  • Our work
    • Publications
    • Talks & comment
    • Policy submissions and letters
    • Participation in policy processes
    • Our work in the UK
    • Collaboration
  • Problem chemicals
    • Hormone Disrupting Chemicals FAQ
    • Bisphenols
    • Phthalates
    • PFAS
    • Pharmaceutical pollution
    • Chemicals and plastics
  • Chemical impacts
    • Neurological Impairment
    • Obesity and Diabetes
    • Breast Cancer
    • Male Reproductive Health
    • Pesticides and cancer
    • Immune system effects
    • Wildlife impacts
  • Chemicals policy
    • EU-REACH
    • Chemicals and the Circular Economy
    • Food contact materials
    • Brexit & Chemicals
    • Global-POPs
  • Take Action

UK

The Brexit trade deal: what it means for the UK’s protection from hazardous chemicals

December 28, 2020 By Michael Warhurst

Chemicals annex image

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

Chemicals need to be regulated upstream to address chemical pollution in rivers

October 12, 2020 By Julie Schneider

The news came as a shock: 100% of England’s rivers failed the pollution test. On 17th September, the Environment Agency published the results of their 2019 assessment required under the Water Framework Directive of 4,679 rivers, lakes, estuaries and other surface water bodies: 0% received good chemical status. Not one met the legal water quality standards. Chemical pollution … [Read more...] about Chemicals need to be regulated upstream to address chemical pollution in rivers

Michael Gove claimed it would be ‘better’, but in reality the UK’s BREACH is in crisis

September 10, 2020 By Chloe Alexander

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

June 2, 2020 By Chloe Alexander

Extract of text

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

April 21, 2020 By Chloe Alexander

ECHA flag

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

March 24, 2020 By Chloe Alexander

Image from the video of the Environment bill evidence session

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

‘Dark Waters’ and PFOA – FAQ

“It’s not just PFOA, it’s not just this location in West Virginia" - Rob Bilott The new Hollywood film ‘Dark Waters’ tells the real-life story of Rob Bilott, the lawyer who took on chemical giant DuPont after discovering that the company was polluting drinking water with the harmful chemical PFOA (also referred to as C8 in the film). Starring actor Mark Ruffalo and … [Read more...] about ‘Dark Waters’ and PFOA – FAQ

New investigation finds harmful PFAS chemicals in UK food packaging

February 11, 2020 By Julie Schneider

Today’s report released by Scottish NGO Fidra shows that controversial PFAS chemicals, also known as forever chemicals, are present in UK food packaging. Fidra analysed 20 food packaging samples bought in the UK to test for the presence of PFAS (per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances). PFAS were present in 95% of the samples tested as reported in their new report: … [Read more...] about New investigation finds harmful PFAS chemicals in UK food packaging

New Hollywood film ‘Dark Waters’ highlights the shocking reality of PFAS pollution

February 4, 2020 By Eleanor Hawke

A new Hollywood film ‘Dark Waters’ highlights the dire reality of pollution from harmful PFAS chemicals and the urgent need for strong, protective legislation to protect human health and the environment. PFAS (per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances) are known as the 'forever chemicals' as they do not break down easily and will persist in the environment for decades. PFAS … [Read more...] about New Hollywood film ‘Dark Waters’ highlights the shocking reality of PFAS pollution

It all adds up: the chemical cost of receipts

November 28, 2019 By Heather McFarlane

Heather McFarlane of environmental charity Fidra (www.fidra.org.uk) explores the hidden costs of receipts and the chemicals retailers are handing you every time you shop. Whether it is Black Friday, Christmas shopping or refreshing your winter wardrobe, at this time of year everybody seems to be heading to the shops and racking up receipts. But are we picking up more than we … [Read more...] about It all adds up: the chemical cost of receipts

Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Sign up to the CHEM Trust Newsletter

CHEM Trust Privacy Policy

Read our latest newsletter

Recent Tweets

My Tweets

Click for posts on…

AuthorisationBiomonitoringBisphenol ABrexitBrominated flame retardantsChildrenCircular EconomyDEHPDG SancoDG SantéECHAEconomic impactEDC CriteriaEFSAEndocrine DisruptorsEU-USEU CommissionFoodFood contactFrackingGreen EconomyGroupingHealthPackagingPesticidesPFASPharmaceuticalsPhthalatesPlasticsPollutionPVCREACHRisk AssessmentScience PolicyThermal paperTradeTTIPUKWaterWildlife

Subscribe to the blog

Get an email when this blog is updated.

Follow us

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2021 CHEM Trust · Reg Charity No. 1118182 · Disclaimer · Login