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.

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.