The UK Chemicals Stakeholder Forum (CSF - a body led by Government but including the chemical industry, NGO’s, trade unions and others) – has launched new advice on Authorisation. The Advice has been published in support of the recommendation made by the Prime Minister’s Business EU Red Tape task Force, the European Commission and ECHA should provide more understandable guidance for smaller businesses.

The new advice was launched during a session involving the SME Ambassador of the European Chemicals Agency, Andreas Herdina who was on a fact-finding mission to London.

Chief Executive of the Chemical Industries Association, Steve  Elliott said “Anyone who has grappled with REACH knows that it is complicated. We have called for more pragmatic and understandable  guidance in our response to the Prime Minister’s EU Red Tape Business Task Force.   This clear guidance is a positive step to delivering better communication and closer working cooperation throughout the supply chain. A recent CIA survey suggested that 40% of businesses will have to deal with authorisation in the future.”

During the CSF meeting Dr Joanne (Jo) Lloyd of the Chemical Industries Association outlined some possible work areas for those SMEs which will have to register in 2018 in particular an extension of the REACH navigator tool, the need of a clear registration roadmap and the lack of consistent guidance on how to tackle registration as cost-effectively as possible.

During Mr Herdinas’ visit Steve Elliott and Jo Lloyd took the opportunity to showcase the suite of business friendly guidance that the CIA’s subsidiary business REACHReady provides on REACH as well as other similar complex legal areas including the CLP and Biocidal products regulations.

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Notes to Editors:

For further comment, please contact Lena Nunkoo 07951 388 919

Chemicals Stakeholder Forum https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/uk-chemicals-stakeholder-forum

Chemical Industries Association (CIA) is the organisation that represents chemical and pharmaceutical businesses throughout the UK www.cia.org.uk