 |
answer text |
<p>We have been engaging with a range of stakeholders, including importers, to understand
the impacts of Brexit and deliver the best possible outcome for the industry after
we leave. Our priority is to maintain an effective regulatory system for the management
and control of chemicals to safeguard human health and the environment, respond to
emerging risks and allow trade with the EU that is as frictionless as possible.</p><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>That is why we are aiming for a UK-EU free trade area on goods
including chemicals. The chemical sector is highly regulated and, as set out in the
White Paper ‘<em>The Future Relationship between the United Kingdom and the European
Union</em>’ published on 12 July 2018, we are seeking participation in the European
Chemical Agency (ECHA), accepting its rules including the REACH Regulation, and contributing
to its costs. This approach will enable us to meet our objective of ensuring that
chemicals only need to be approved once in either market and ensure that UK businesses
could continue to register chemical substances directly, rather than working through
an EU-based representative.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In the event of a no deal
scenario we will ensure an effective regulatory system is in place. The European Union
(Withdrawal) Act will convert REACH into domestic law ensuring that those regulations
continue to apply in the UK. As part of the Government’s Technical Notices being published
later this month, we will be providing further information on our plans for this scenario
in order to guide businesses and the public on how they can best prepare for leaving
the EU.</p><p> </p>
|
|
