Parliament's environmental watchdog, the Environmental Audit Committee, has produced a report highlighting the confusion surrounding the future of UK chemical regulation post Brexit, and calling on the Government to clarify the situation as a matter of urgency.
The Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) inquiry found that UK companies will have spent an estimated £250 million in order to comply with an EU registration deadline in May 2018, yet have received no guarantees over whether these registrations will remain valid after the UK leaves the EU. This uncertainty means that one in five UK chemical companies represented by the Chemical Business Association is already investigating registering elsewhere in the EU, in a move that could cost jobs and investment.
The lack of clarity also extends to plans for a future chemicals framework for the UK. The Government has admitted that it will be difficult to transpose major portions of chemicals regulation into UK law, but has not yet offered a vision for regulatory replacement. This has led to concern over the extent to which current standards will be maintained. Read more here.
Sustain is bringing together a range of campaign groups and organisations to help safeguard hard-won health and environmental protections post-Brexit: find out more here.
Published Monday 1 May 2017
Sustain: Sustain The alliance for better food and farming advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, enrich society and culture and promote equity.
