The post-Brexit chemicals regulatory framework series (Part 1)

Alun Williams is the lead for External Stakeholder Engagement within the Chemicals, Pesticides and Hazardous Waste (CPHW) team at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). Alun’s role has primarily concentrated on ensuring UK businesses are aware of their obligations under UK REACH. Alun has also worked on sector readiness, contingency planning and international pesticides strategy within the CPHW team.

Ryan works with businesses in the materials and chemicals sectors so that the Government has a full understanding of their needs from trade policy and BEIS is able to represent their interests in negotiations and domestic policy discussions. His current focus is on communicating actions the Government recommends businesses should take to prepare for potential new trading arrangements and working with businesses as they plan. Ryan has previously worked in emergency response and health policy roles within the Civil Service. Before that he worked in the NHS.

Leo has worked for HSE for over 30 years with the vast majority of that time being in policy work. Leo has extensive experience of working and negotiating in the EU as well as in implementing EU legislation. Leo led for HSE on biocides policy before moving to work on EU Exit issues related to chemicals. This included leading on ensuring HSE had a legislative regime in place for the regulation of chemicals and was prepared to deliver its regulatory functions after EU Exit. It also meant ensuring HSE had input into the negotiations on the UK/EU Trade and Co-operation Agreement and on the NI Protocol.

Luke has spent over a decade editing and reporting for diverse international B2B and technical publications covering: green fuels, oil and petrochemicals, air and sea transportation and logistics, and construction. He joined Chemical Watch in 2016.