February 2020
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This conference was a timely opportunity to discuss the priorities for the UK chemicals sector - focusing on the evolving regulatory framework.
Stakeholders and policymakers discussed the options for the shape of UK chemical regulations post-Brexit and next steps for policy affecting the industry.
Speakers
There were keynote contributions from Holly Yates, Deputy Director - Domestic, EU and International Policy - Chemicals, Pesticides and Hazardous Waste, Defra; Dave Bench, Director, EU Exit - Chemicals, Health & Safety Executive; Steve Elliott, Chief Executive, Chemical Industries Association; Mark Earnshaw, Managing Regulatory Consultant, Yordas Group; Mamta Patel, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Chemical Watch; Gerard McElwee, Of Counsel, Competition, Regulatory and Trade, Belgium, Fieldfisher and Neil Hollis, REACH & Regulatory Affairs Specialist, BASF.
Further speakers included: Camilla Alexander-White, Royal Society of Chemistry; Steve Hoare, ABPI; Steve Hollins, Exponent International; Peter Newport, Chemical Business Association and Caroline Raine, National Chemical Emergency Centre.
The agenda
- Progress on developing the UK Chemicals Strategy and policy priorities going forward;
- The evolving regulatory landscape;
- The future for chemicals regulation - data, cost, health and safety, and international alignment;
- The chemicals supply chain and future policy - decarbonisation, innovation, risk, and enforcement; and
- The future for regulation and the policy framework.
Priorities for future UK chemicals policy
Delegates assessed key challenges for sector development and growth - including issues for the supply chain.
Discussion focused on government and industry views on alignment of regulation between the UK and international markets, to minimise disruption to trade. Delegates and speakers also examined the cost of regulation and chemical registration, approaches to decarbonisation, innovation and future-proofing the chemicals sector.
Further to this, discussion covered the future maintenance of effective safeguards and what more can be done to sustainably manage chemical substances, including addressing obstacles to the reusing and recycling of chemical materials.
Evolving regulatory landscape
With the new government developing its policy on post-Brexit alignment, delegates looked ahead to future options for the regulatory landscape and implications for the sector, its partners and customers. Further sessions looked at health and safety, data sharing with the EU, and future convergence with the EU-REACH regulatory system. The cost competitiveness and economic viability for the UK REACH were also examined, along with the potential shape of any future UK system in light of the UK REACH SI and subsequent amendment - which set out the basis for how chemical regulations would work after Brexit.
