European chemical industry releases statement on Brexit negotiation latest

24-Jan-2019 - Last updated on 24-Jan-2019 at 09:41 GMT

The European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic) has released a statement confirming in strong terms that the chemicals industry in Europe depends on certainty on the arrangements for Brexit.

The organisation says that business continues lacking clarity about the state of play after 29 March 2019, which means that companies can’t make decisions on production, investments and employment.

Marco Mensink, Director General of Cefic, has confirmed: “We can’t stress this enough but having certainty on the arrangements between the EU and the UK is critical to avoid serious supply chain disruptions.

“We continue to ask for a solution to be found, and hope that a ‘no-deal Brexit’ can still be avoided.”

The statement follows last week’s vote in the UK Parliament, which saw the potential deal negotiated by UK Prime Minister Theresa May rejected by the majority of UK MPs.

Frictionless tariff-free trade in chemicals demanded

Cefic’s statement hones in on the industry’s need for trade and regulation to remain closely aligned between the UK and the EU.

“From the onset of the Brexit negotiations the chemical industry on both sides of the Channel has been calling for an agreement that would keep frictionless tariff-free trade in chemicals, ensure regulatory consistency between the UK and EU-27 and enable access to skilled people to continue with the sector’s R&D programmes,” the council confirms.

“Cefic has closely cooperated and continues to work with its UK member CIA and the UK based companies to inform policy makers about our position.”

Safe, regulated UK cosmetics to continue

The statement from Cefic comes hot on the heels of another beauty organisation making public remarks about the potential outcomes of Brexit.

The UK’s cosmetics trade association, the CTPA, earlier this month asserted that “cosmetic products will continue to be safe after Brexit”, following media coverage that suggested standards on safety for beauty may slip in the UK once it leaves the EU.

“For any cosmetic product being placed on the UK market, irrespective of its origin, consumers can be reassured that both now and after we leave the EU all ingredients must be safe to use, as must the final cosmetic product,” the CTPA said. Read our full report here.