UK Chemicals Regulations & Policy 2024

Moderator

• update on the Chemicals Strategy; and
• policy development on priority issues of PFAS and Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs)

• UK REACH Alternative Transitional Registration model; and
• UK REACH Work programme.

• Swiss Framework conditions;
• the Swiss principles of harmonization with the EU; and
• state of the harmonization with the EU

• update on the Global Framework for Chemicals agreed in Bonn, Sept 2023;
• prioritizing the national and global chemicals issues of concern – a UK perspective?;
• update on the establishment of a new UNEP science-policy panel (SPP) for chemicals, waste and pollution prevention;
• capacity building for developing nations – future chemicals assessments based on New Approach Method (NAM) data; and
• how best to manage conflicts of interest for the participation of scientists in the new Science-Policy Panel (SPP).

• there are many NAM available to assess the safety of chemicals without the generation of new animal data;
• opportunities lie in exposure-informed assessment strategies, considering characterization of biological effects;
• application of NAM will rely upon an integrated, weight of evidence approach; and
• innovation in understanding mode of action and growing systems biology capabilities will strengthen the NAM landscape

Moderator

• setting out GB’s regulatory framework for chemicals after leaving the EU, including its opportunities and challenges;
• explaining the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 and the UK Government programme of ‘Smarter Regulation’;
• exploring possible opportunities to update the way that HSE regulates chemicals in GB as a result of the Act; and
• a forward look at what HSE’s chemicals regulations for GB might look like as a consequence.

Joined by

• background of GB MCL;
• summary of what has happened to date;
• substances that have divergence;
• future changes to substances;
• other relevant divergence specific to substances;
• labelling challenges; and
• what should companies be doing?

• what’s changed and what’s stayed the same?;
• experiences of the UK REACH authorization and restriction processes so far;
• what’s on the horizon?;
• exploiting post-Brexit opportunities;
• what should affected businesses do?

• analysis of recent UK WEEE EPR public consultation;
• summary of key changes between current and upcoming systems; and
• highlighting alignment/divergence between new UK WEEE EPR system and EU WEEE EPR system.

• what is happening in the EU and how this is reflected in the UK (including the status of TBBP-A, responsibilities for the proposals to move responsibilities to the European Chemicals Agency, and the status of key exemptions that will impact upon those shown as 'transitional' in the UK legislation);
• the latest on CE/UKCA marking for RoHS; and
• a forward look

• progress achieved within the packaging waste management sector in the UK; and
• why 2024 is set to be a pivotal year for the reforms.

Joined by