Draft REACH (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2026

Tessa Munt Excerpts

Monday 8th June 2026 General Committees

[Tessa Munt (Wells and Mendip Hills) (LD)]

The Liberal Democrats support the principle of reducing unnecessary bureaucracy and avoiding costly duplication for businesses in the UK REACH regime. We recognise the challenges that businesses face in complying with post-Brexit chemicals regulations, and we understand the need to develop a more proportionate and workable registration system.

The draft regulations will provide businesses with additional time to compile and submit complex chemical safety information while the Government develop their alternative transitional registration model. Given the significant costs and administrative burdens that the current system can impose on businesses, we support measures that avoid unnecessary regulatory burdens while maintaining existing environmental and public health protections. We will therefore support the draft regulations, but we urge the Government to move more quickly to deliver their replacement registration model and provide long-term certainty for businesses, regulators and consumers.

[The Chair]

I do apologise; I was under the impression that the hon. Lady was speaking from the Back Bench, but I take it from her opening remark that she was speaking for the Liberal Democrats.

[Tessa Munt]

Indeed I was.

[The Chair]

Had I known, I would have done the hon. Lady the courtesy of calling her to speak as a Front Bencher.