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.