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.

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.