REACH (Amendment) Regulations 2023

Debate between Lord Monks and Viscount Stansgate

Tuesday 13th June 2023 Grand Committee

[Viscount Stansgate (Lab)]

My Lords, I rise briefly to make just a couple of points. I remember when the EU REACH legislation was going through the European Parliament. I was involved in a different capacity. It was, as Members will know, the biggest piece of legislation that the European Parliament had ever dealt with. This is a very complex area.

I appreciate the Minister’s exposition of this statutory instrument but, like other noble Lords, I have a couple of questions. As the Minister mentioned, this is not the first extension. I am not surprised by that because this is a complex area. Nevertheless, I want to raise something that I think other Members will also raise; indeed, it has just been raised by the noble Baroness. Is the 2024 deadline realistic, bearing in mind especially that the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee referred to concerns that the ATR might be weaker in its effect? Does the Minister care to elaborate a little more on that?

Another question that arises is whether the HSE has enough staff to cope with the complexity and volume of data and the examination that is necessary in this process. Does the Minister care to comment a little on the industry’s concerns about cost? There are some legitimate concerns about that. Who did the Government consult in the course of preparing this SI? The Minister did not mention anyone specifically, but did the department consult the Chemical Industries Association or the professional body for chemistry, the Royal Society of Chemistry, which has taken a close interest in something of such importance over a period of many years? Does the Minister care to say anything about the capacity for confusion in Northern Ireland between the parallel systems of EU REACH and UK REACH?

Finally, in respect of the retained EU law Bill, I really do think—I hope Members agree—that this is too big an issue for us to allow a future Government to make a major change without consulting Parliament. I would be grateful if the Minister could address those points in his reply.

[Lord Monks (Lab)]

My Lords, I too have experience of dealing with REACH at the European level. When I was the general secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, we worked with the British chemical industry, including the Chemical Industries Association—often against opposition from the powerful German chemical industry lobby, which was hostile to the whole concept of REACH. I was very pleased when we got it through; as my noble friend Lord Stansgate just outlined, it was not without considerable difficulty and this is an extremely complex area.

I will make two points today. First, I want to give a little tribute to the Chemical Industries Association, which I have found over the years to be as good a lobby group as any in the business world in terms of taking a broad view of issues, as well as looking after its members’ interests. That is important.

I am particularly concerned to ensure that in the extension that has been given, which I support, we continue to adhere to EU REACH, because we have nothing at the moment and the game plan is there. No doubt we will have some variations on it in due course, and I accept that, but in the meantime, in the absence of a British UK-EU arrangement, I hope that the Minister can ensure that the British industry follows the EU rules until they are replaced.