There are currently around 200 petroleum substances registered in REACH, of which 11 have a UK-based Lead Registrant, but UK companies have over 500 licences for registration of these substances, mostly for substances imported into the UK and supplied into Europe from countries outside the EEA; the largest number of any EU Member State. Given this, UKPIA has regularly highlighted to Government that it is vital that arrangements post-Brexit are robust and protect existing supply-chain integration in all scenarios.
The proposals made in the Technical Notice for REACH present risks to the fuel supply chain. We understand there will be duplicate registrations for the proposed UK replacement for REACH and significant changes to how oil companies have to register their fuels for sale in the EEA – not least in having to have an EEA-based affiliate in order to maintain market access. Free movement of feedstock, intermediates and finished products between the UK and the EU is essential to ensure smooth operation of the supply chain. Such measures implied as necessary by the Technical Notice will not be necessary in a negotiated scenario, yet represent major and potentially onerous changes to current business practice.
A UKPIA spokesperson said "While Government has set out measures that will give some transition time even in a “No Deal” scenario, this Notice underlines the need for a continuing close relationship with the EEA and ECHA on chemicals safety policy and serves to reinforce our preference for maintaining existing REACH arrangements and their further extension to other countries outside the EEA."
ENDS
Enquiries to: UKPIA Press Office, Tel. 020 7269 7605
1. UKPIA represents eight oil refining and marketing companies that operate the six major oil refineries in the UK and source over 85% of the transport fuels used. UKPIA members also own around 1,250 of the UK's 8,476 filling stations in the UK.
2. UKPIA members supply over 33% of the UK’s primary energy needs and support the employment of over 80,000 people across the UK.