The government’s post-Brexit chemical regulations are expected to reduce the “hazard” information that companies must provide to register chemicals in the UK.
The UK has published a policy paper establishing its progress on the development of new chemical regulations that are expected to replace the European Union (EU) standards post-Brexit, known as UK Reach. However, experts have expressed concerns that the new rules would expose citizens to potentially dangerous substances.
The government’s new plans will aim to reduce the “hazard” information that chemical companies must provide to register substances in the UK to an “irreducible minimum” in a bid to reduce business costs.
The UK has not been part of the EU’s chemicals regulations since 2021. However, the country has yet to introduce its own version of the Reach system. The delays were mainly attributed to a government impact assessment that found that the cost of duplicating the safety data held in Brussels to re-register 22,400 chemicals would amount to £2bn.
In the time since the UK left the EU Reach programme, the bloc has restricted the use of eight new chemicals and has opened investigations into another 16. In contrast, the UK is considering just two restrictions, on lead ammunition and harmful substances in tattoo ink.
The proposed plans have been celebrated by the chemicals industry.
Tim Doggett, CEO of the Chemical Business Association, said the announcement is “what we have been campaigning for since December 2021”.
“The uncertainty around UK Reach continues to stifle investment and have a negative impact not just on the chemical industry, but the industry as a whole and its ability to trade, innovate and grow,” he added.
However, environmental campaigners have opposed the proposals, claiming they prioritise cost savings for the chemicals industry over environmental protections.
Richard Benwell, chief executive of Wildlife and Countryside Link, said the new scheme would “be a misguided step in the wrong direction” and accused the government of “falling behind, leaving UK wildlife and consumers exposed to more toxic chemicals than our European neighbours”.
Ruth Chambers, Greener UK, added: “The government promised that its new post-Brexit chemicals system would maintain high standards. Reducing safety information to an ‘irreducible minimum’ does not instil confidence that the new UK system will put the health of consumers and the environment first. The UK will be lagging badly behind the EU.”
Campaigners have proposed that the UK follows EU chemical restrictions as standard.
A Defra spokesperson said: “We are reviewing our legislation to see whether we can deliver more effective and efficient outcomes for both the environment and business. We will continue to work closely with industry and other interested stakeholders to understand their concerns and discuss how these might be addressed while ensuring high levels of protection of human health and the environment.”
Earlier this year, the government announced a three-year extension to deadlines for completing full UK Reach registrations, with these now required in October 2026, October 2028 and October 2030 depending on the tonnage and toxicity of chemicals concerned.
