Image source, Getty Images
- Author, Esme Stallard
- Role, Climate and science reporter, BBC News
Britain is at risk of ‘uncontrolled chemicals’ that could harm people and the environment, experts say.
The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) has called for the creation of a Chemicals Agency to take charge of regulating chemicals in Britain.
It says the increase in the use of pollutants often called ‘forever chemicals’ is an example of where regulations are ‘falling through the cracks’.
The government has been approached for comment.
RSC said they decided on a public intervention after waiting more than four years for clarity on how chemicals should be regulated following Britain’s departure from the EU.
Before 2020, Britain and the current 27 EU countries worked together to research, monitor and regulate chemicals around their use.
Post-Brexit, Britain took sole responsibility for domestic regulation of chemicals, but there have been delays in setting up a new system.
“The current regulatory regime for chemicals in Britain is not fit for purpose and fails to support innovation or adequately protect our waterways, soil, air and built environment,” said Professor Gillian Reid, President of the Royal Society of Chemistry.
Last month the government announced it would consult on a registration process for new chemicals – intended to be the main mechanism by which Britain will track which chemicals are imported into the country.
The process was intended to take place from the day Britain officially left the EU four years ago, in 2020. The RSC said the delay will impact dozens of industries operating in the UK and EU markets – from cosmetics to food production. , to agriculture.
Stephanie Metzger, policy advisor at the RSC and co-author of the report, said: “Businesses are in this ‘limbo’ phase. This makes it very difficult for them to financially plan what they will invest in and what research they may want to do.”
Image source, Getty Images
The Chemical Industries Association (CIA), the trade body for companies that work with chemicals, agreed that its members needed clarity but said it was “premature” to call for a Chemicals Agency, claiming this was the would only further delay the government process.
The Royal Society of Chemistry claims that a centralized Chemicals Agency will also help coordinate scientific research.
Currently, the RSC claims that research into different chemicals can take place across more than five government agencies, leading to “fragmentation, duplication and a lack of clarity”, according to Prof Reid.
“In addition, the civil service is under-resourced and struggles to recruit and train skilled personnel, making it difficult for the government to keep abreast of the latest developments in chemicals and testing,” she said .
Image source, Getty Images
In recent years, there has been increasing evidence of the presence of potentially toxic chemicals such as PFAS – or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances – accumulating in British soil and waterways.
High doses of these pollutants, also called “forever chemicals,” have been linked to serious health problems, including cancer and fertility problems.
Last week, researchers from Cardiff University found traces of a chemical that had never been manufactured in Britain and was present in an otter population in northeast England.
Dr. Elizabeth Chadwick, from Cardiff University, co-author of the research paper, said a ban on forever chemicals is challenging because they are widely used and there are more than 15,000 types in circulation.
“I think we need to do some work to really understand how the different groups of PFAS might have slightly different toxic effects to help inform regulations,” she said.
“What should we really focus on first?”
The EU is currently investigating a possible ban on forever chemicals in 2026.