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?
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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 NGOs call for urgent ban of all PFAS
CHEM Trust is joining health and environment UK NGOs calling on the UK Governments to urgently ban the use of all ‘forever chemicals’, PFAS (per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances). It is the only way to prevent the continual pollution of the UK environment with the most persistent human-made chemicals known to date, and protect current and future generations from the impact … [Read more...] about UK NGOs call for urgent ban of all PFAS
A ‘Chemical Cocktail’ is threatening England’s rivers
Today the UK Parliament's Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) has published a new report concluding that a 'chemical cocktail' of sewage, slurry and plastic is polluting English rivers and putting public health and nature at risk. The report is the result of its inquiry into water quality in English rivers, launched in December 2020. None of England's rivers assessed by … [Read more...] about A ‘Chemical Cocktail’ is threatening England’s rivers
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
