Our sector needed tariff-free trade, minimal border delays, regulatory consistency and continued access to skilled people. Members of the Chemical Industries Association (CIA) have examined the issue of Brexit and our relations with the European Union in great detail.
We have welcomed the agreement in terms of the avoidance of tariffs and quotas, and what seem to be supportive rules of origin plus the commitment for both parties to work together in future. However, we have said publicly and privately that we are very concerned about there being no provision yet for UK regulators to automatically access the REACH data we have supplied for the past decade. We are continuing to work with Government, with Regulators and with Parliament to look at how we can best enable the sector to minimise the amount of inevitable duplication.
We set out the key issues affecting UK chemical businesses in the new trading relationship with the EU from 1 January 2021. We address a number of key policy areas – trade, energy & climate change, environment, chemicals management, health & safety and employment – we highlight current arrangements and what changes need to be made as a result of the new agreement.
On 23 June 2016 the country voted to leave the European Union. Whilst respecting the result of the referendum, UK chemical businesses shared with CIA their priorities for any future trading relationship between the UK and the EU. Those businesses explained that with 60% of UK chemical exports going to the EU and the UK sourcing 75% of raw materials from the EU, maintaining a close relationship was crucial.
Our sector needed tariff-free trade, minimal border delays, regulatory consistency and continued access to skilled people. Members of the Chemical Industries Association (CIA) have examined the issue of Brexit and our relations with the European Union in great detail. We now have some, but not all, of this. Trading will be more difficult even with a deal. The big challenge though is UK regulators not being able to access EU REACH data. We need Government to urgently address this in the context of the new UKREACH.
The depth and breadth of engagement across Government over the past four years has resulted in the chemical industry being much better understood and appreciated by policymakers. That engagement will ensure the views of, and issues being faced by, chemical businesses can be better addressed by Government. We will provide updates to this guidance as new information becomes available.
Working with EU member states
This guidance has been updated following the agreement reached between the UK and the European Union (EU) on a future trading relationship beginning 1 January 2021.
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