Regulations
The chemical industry already operates in a demanding regulatory climate, but new regulation continues to come from the EU or from the UK Government. It is vital that companies of all sizes are aware of future requirements so that they can take the necessary steps to ensure they comply. Not all companies will be connected to trade associations that are active in this area who, as national bodies, may not adequately reflect regional considerations.
Chemicals Northwest provides up-to-date information on specific items of regulation that are of critical concern to companies in the North West chemical industry, and to its suppliers and customers. This covers the impact of the regulation, timescale and sources of further information.
For comprehensive information on regulations relevant to the chemicals industry, we recommend looking at the www.netregs.gov.uk site. We are currently focussing on:
- REACH Regulations will make it illegal to use almost all chemicals manufactured or imported into the EU unless they have been formally registered. For more hazardous chemicals, further evaluation, or even formal authorisation, may be needed.
- The Water Framework Directive will introduce an integrated approach to issues of water quality and water quantity to improve all river basins in the UK to good ecological standards
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The Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) is an international agreement which since January 2009 is to be legally enforced in the EU through the European Regulation on Classification, Labelling and Packing of Substances and Mixtures (CLP). This could change how your products need to be packaged, labelled, and even marketed from December 2010. (More information on HSE website: http://www.hse.gov.uk/ghs/eureg.htm)
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The Emissions Trading Scheme and Carbon Reduction Commitments affect most chemical manufacturing sites. More information can be found through the Department of Energy & Climate Change (http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/what_we_do/lc_uk/crc/crc.aspx), at the Chemical Industries Association websites (www.ciabata.org.uk), and through Cefic (www.cefic.be/en/538.html).
