BCF Blog: An industry update

Tom Bowtell, Chief Executive 

Whatever the outcome of the election tomorrow, the coatings industry, along with other associations in the chemical industry supply chain, will continue to express our view that whatever the Brexit outcome, UK REACH should be avoided at all costs, and the new Government should continue to negotiate for the UK to remain part of EU REACH.  This message was clear from our member survey in September, where 90% of members fear having a duplicate set of chemical regulations in the UK.  The Prime Minister’s new deal foresees a free trade agreement with the EU and removes some of the commitments to regulatory alignment for chemicals that were in the previous Theresa May deal.  For our sector, the new deal from Boris Johnson is far from “Oven Ready”, given the complexity of the integrated chemicals supply chain and centralised registration system which we will be losing.  However, the industry will find a way to adapt and cope with whatever new trading environment we are faced with – how much that supports UK manufacturing is another matter, but we will continue to have a constructive dialogue with civil servants and politicians, to ensure the best outcome for our sector.

The other major topic coming to a head at the moment is the titanium dioxide classification. Despite objections from member states representing more than half the EU population, the European Commission is pushing ahead with its proposal to classify titanium dioxide as a category 2 carcinogen.  This will impact titanium dioxide use in member factories, and also powder coatings, which will be classified too. Liquid paints and coatings will not be classified, but questions remain over how other regulations such as waste and toys will treat products containing titanium dioxide, as well as brand owners, who often refuse to have “hazardous chemicals” in their products.

As an industry, we don’t accept that the classification is correct in that the evidence shows that it was a dust effect, not the titanium dioxide itself, that caused issues in the single rat study.  You cannot classify dust, and if concerns exist overexposure to titanium dioxide in powder form, then we call on the EU to harmonise and tighten up occupational health exposure limits across Europe, rather than using classification and labelling laws like CLP.  It seems the only likely option left to the industry is to consider an appeal against the European Commission – something BCF, as your trade association, is seriously considering.  As one board member said in the last BCF board meeting – if we don’t stand up and fight this one, which battle are we going to fight?