Chemical businesses face severe costs and mounting
uncertainty over new safety regulations after the Brexit
transition period, a group of Peers has warned.
But a data-sharing agreement with the EU or
alternative arrangements would help mitigate the situation,
according to the House of Lords EU Environment
Sub-Committee which wants a government rethink.
In a letter
the committee has urged Environment Secretary and Business Secretary to do all they can to secure a data-sharing agreement
otherwise many companies will have to buy or reproduce data owned
by European counterparts.
Increased and unnecessary costs for the chemicals
industry - Britain’s second largest manufacturing sector after
food and drink - will push up prices for other manufacturers who
use chemicals in their products and for consumers, the committee
says.
UK chemical manufacturers and importers may take
products off the market meaning that other industries will have
to produce alternatives which could lead to less effective, more
expensive goods and less choice for consumers.
, Chair
of the EU Environment Sub-Committee, said:
“We heard evidence that greatly concerned us about
continuing issues regarding the new UK chemicals regime and are
concerned especially about the estimated costs of the data
requirements.
“New thinking by the government is required to ensure
that we protect human and environmental health without having a
negative impact on our economy and without placing excessive
burdens on industry.
“Industry’s priority is for the UK regime to remain
consistent with EU REACH, and our priority is to protect the UK
economy and consumers. A data-sharing agreement is the way to
accomplish both.”
