The emerging need to develop a UK chemicals framework
The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee have published their final report from their inquiry into "The Future of Chemicals Regulation after the EU Referendum".
This inquiry focused on the REACH regulation that governs the Registration, Authorisation, Evaluation and Restriction of Chemicals in the EU.
We submitted both written and oral evidence to this inquiry.
The report is brief, due partly to the need for it to be published before the dissolution of parliament. It captures some high-level findings for the UK government and the chemicals sector to consider as the Brexit negotiations get underway.
Repeal and future regulation
Key findings included the difficulty of transposing EU REACH regulation directly into UK law in the context of the Great Repeal Bill and that UK government should seek as a minimum to remain involved in the registration process for chemicals in Europe, which is the process of chemicals safety data collation and submission by the chemicals industry.
These two findings raise the importance of government considering whether it needs to develop a UK chemicals management framework and the importance of access to data and EU institutions such as the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).
Dr. Camilla Alexander-White, our programme manager in environment and regulation, who gave oral evidence at this inquiry, said: "We welcome this report and encourage the next UK government to build on all of the evidence and findings that were uncovered as part of this important inquiry. Going forward, the UK needs a clear, simple and enforceable regulatory framework for chemicals.
"It is vital that UK scientists continue to work actively and internationally to stay at the forefront of providing high calibre, expert evidence into chemicals regulation, in the UK and globally".
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