A government official recently announced that the government intends to develop a new chemical sectors strategy, which will be its first in more than two years.

Independent Commodity Intelligence Services (ICIS) reported on the announcement, ahead of the Brexit deadline of 31 January 2020.

According to the news provider, the new strategy will cover a number of key areas, including environmental health, human health, the circular economy, and regulation.

Holly Yates, deputy director for chemicals, pesticides and hazardous waste at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), commented: “It is important not to underestimate the extent that the government is serious about the environmental agenda.”

While the current trading and legal conditions between the EU and the UK chemicals industry will remain as they are until the end of 2020, once the transition period ends there is little detail about how the regulatory environment will look.

Chemicals Watch pointed out that, following 31 January, the UK will lose its vote and representation on all the committees and networks associated with the European Chemicals Agency (Echa) and the European Commission.

This means that, at least until the end of 2020, the UK will continue to implement decisions made by the EU REACH organisation, but won’t have any influence over them.

As a result, Defra suggested that UK stakeholders in the chemicals sector use their “soft influence” behind the scenes to ensure their perspectives are heard when new REACH decisions are being discussed.

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