Asked by: Stephen Crabb (Conservative - Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government is seeking to remain a member of European Chemicals Agency after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
The Government is committed to an ambitious, broad, deep and flexible economic partnership with the EU. We want a deal that allows us to be in control of our own laws. The details of this partnership, including the possibility of cooperation with relevant European Chemicals Agency, including on REACH, will be a matter for negotiation with the EU after we leave the European Union.
We are preparing for that negotiation and will work with a wide range of partners to ensure a successful outcome for UK business and citizens.
Asked by: Stephen Crabb (Conservative - Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment the Government has made of the potential merits of the UK staying aligned to the REACH chemical regulations after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
The Government is committed to an ambitious, broad, deep and flexible economic partnership with the EU. We want a deal that allows us to be in control of our own laws. The details of this partnership, including the possibility of cooperation with relevant European Chemicals Agency, including on REACH, will be a matter for negotiation with the EU after we leave the European Union.
We are preparing for that negotiation and will work with a wide range of partners to ensure a successful outcome for UK business and citizens.
Asked by: Stephen Crabb (Conservative - Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations she has received from industry on the UK’s ongoing relationship with the European Chemicals Agency after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
Ministers and officials have been engaging throughout the UK with businesses of all sizes and their representatives and trade associations to ensure we understand the sector’s priorities for our future relationship with the EU, including its priorities relating to European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).
We have heard these views from businesses in meetings, correspondence and at large scale stakeholder events. Through this engagement we have also heard of industry’s concerns of the potential impacts to business and disruption to supply chains resulting from divergence from the EU REACH regulations.
We recognise the importance of the EU trade to the Chemicals sector and will continue to work, up to and after our exit from the EU with a wide range of partners to ensure a successful outcome for UK business and citizens.
Asked by: Stephen Crabb (Conservative - Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations she has received from industry on the effect of divergence from REACH regulations after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
Ministers and officials have been engaging throughout the UK with businesses of all sizes and their representatives and trade associations to ensure we understand the sector’s priorities for our future relationship with the EU, including its priorities relating to European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).
We have heard these views from businesses in meetings, correspondence and at large scale stakeholder events. Through this engagement we have also heard of industry’s concerns of the potential impacts to business and disruption to supply chains resulting from divergence from the EU REACH regulations.
We recognise the importance of the EU trade to the Chemicals sector and will continue to work, up to and after our exit from the EU with a wide range of partners to ensure a successful outcome for UK business and citizens.
Asked by: Stephen Crabb (Conservative - Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to reduce the use of polystyrene in packaging.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
Packaging materials, including polystyrene, are already covered by the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations which place a legal obligation on businesses that make or use packaging to ensure that a proportion of the packaging they sell is recovered and recycled. This creates an incentive for companies to use less packaging and to ensure that their packaging can be recycled at end of life as it will reduce their costs in complying with the Regulations.
In general, we prefer to help people and companies make the right choice, rather than banning items outright. We have, however, recently consulted on changes to the packaging producer responsibility scheme, looking at all aspects of the regime including mechanisms to encourage increased recyclability.
Asked by: Stephen Crabb (Conservative - Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the (a) potential increase and (b) associated risks in the use of ferric phosphates as a replacement for metaldehyde in farming.
Answered by George Eustice
The use of ferric phosphate for controlling slugs has increased in recent years. Use is likely to increase further as metaldehyde will no longer be permitted for outdoor use after 30 June 2020.
Ferric phosphate is authorised for use as a pesticide and the risk assessment carried out demonstrates that it will not harm people or carry unacceptable risks to the environment. In particular, it does not carry the risks to birds and mammals that have led to the decision to remove the authorisation of metaldehyde. The assessment also shows that ferric phosphate is effective in controlling slugs.
Asked by: Stephen Crabb (Conservative - Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which EU countries have banned the use of metaldehyde for agricultural purposes.
Answered by George Eustice
The Netherlands has also prohibited outdoor use of metaldehyde. Denmark, Finland and Sweden did not agree with the approval of metaldehyde and have not authorised its use in agriculture.
Asked by: Stephen Crabb (Conservative - Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations he has received on the use of metaldehyde for agricultural purposes.
Answered by George Eustice
The decision to restrict authorisations arose from a routine review of safety data carried out by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the UK Expert Committee on Pesticides under pesticides legislation. The review considered the available scientific information, including new studies commissioned by authorisation holders, and concluded that the risks to birds and mammals were unacceptable.
The decision was communicated to the authorisation holders by HSE as the UK regulator. Defra issued a press release outlining the reasons for the decision and also alerted water companies that have an interest in limiting metaldehyde emissions to water. Defra and HSE have had representations from stakeholders on the decision itself, some of which were supportive while others raised concerns. We have also had representations about the phase out period. We are in the process of replying to these representations.
Asked by: Stephen Crabb (Conservative - Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how the Government plans to ensure that the four countries of the UK have a coherent approach to cross border environmental issues after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
Across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland we have a shared interest in protecting our environment and delivering a Green Brexit.
The Government wants to make sure decisions that should be taken in devolved areas are taken in devolved areas. But in some areas there will need to be a UK approach in respect of powers returning from the EU. The Joint Ministerial Committee (EU Negotiations) has agreed a set of common principles that will apply to common frameworks in areas where EU law currently intersects with devolved competence. These are outlined in the Joint Ministerial Communique: 16 October 2017 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/joint-ministerial-committee-communique-16-october-2017.
Ministers and officials are in regular discussion with counterparts in the Devolved Administrations on environmental policy matters. This includes considering the need for common frameworks and ensuring appropriate operational arrangements are in place after the UK leaves the EU.
Asked by: Stephen Crabb (Conservative - Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has held with the UK downstream oil industry on its future relationship with the European Chemicals Agency; and what steps he is taking to ensure there is no (a) disruption to UK-EU (i) trade and (ii) investment in chemical substances and (b) additional cost to UK industry after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
We have been engaging with a range of chemical stakeholders, including the UK downstream oil industry, in preparation for the UK leaving the EU. While it would not be appropriate to pre-judge the outcome of the negotiations we will discuss with the EU and Member States how best to continue cooperation in chemicals regulation. In her Mansion House speech the Prime Minister said that we will also explore the terms on which the UK could opt to remain part of the European Chemicals Agency.
In the meantime the recent agreement on the implementation period will give businesses certainty that common rules will remain in place until the end of 2020. This means that chemical businesses in the UK can plan with confidence on the basis that they can operate as now throughout the implementation period.