The chemical industry in the UK and EU27 have welcomed an agreed text on the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union and a future trading relationship.

Ensuring continued participation in REACH through the European Chemicals Agency is the best outcome for the chemical industry in both the UK and the Europe as well as the health and environment agenda across the continent.

Marco Mensink, Cefic’s Director General said: “Our position remains unchanged - the industry needs regulatory certainty on the arrangements between the EU and the UK for the period after March 29 and the sooner these arrangements are agreed on, the better the industry can prepare and the less disruption it will cause for trade”.

CIA Chief Executive, Steve Elliott said “We will continue to work with MPs and members of the House of Lords to ensure there is a UK-EU deal for our country to leave the European Union and trade with member states in the future with minimum disruption to the chemical sector”.

ENDS

NOTES

For further information, please contact CIA's Simon Marsh on 07951389197, [email protected] or 

Maria Linkova-Nijs, Media Relations Manager, Cefic on +32 26767328 or [email protected].

About Cefic

Cefic, the European Chemical Industry Council, founded in 1972, is the voice of large, medium and small chemical companies in Europe, which provide 1.2 million jobs and account for 17% of world chemicals production.

About CIA

• The chemical and pharmaceutical industry adds £18 billion of value to the UK economy every year from total annual turnover of £50 billion.
• In addition to gross value added, the sector also contributes to the UK economy in its position at the head of many supply chains within manufacturing and its employment of a well remunerated, high-skilled workforce. We support 500,000 jobs both directly and indirectly Chemical manufacturing adds £9 billion in gross value added annually and pharmaceutical manufacturing £9 billion.
• The wider chemical and pharmaceutical sector (manufacturing plus distribution) is the largest exporter of manufactured goods with annual exports of over £50 billion. The export of motor vehicle, trailers and semi-trailers is the sector with next highest exports of £35 billion. Aerospace is £32 billion.
• 63% of companies in the sector export what they make to the world, the highest proportion of any goods manufacturing sector in the UK economy. 60% of our exports go to the European Union and 75% of our imports and raw materials come from the European Union.
• The sector’s level of business investment is £4.3 billion, compared to automotive £2.7 billion and aerospace £2.1 billion, while the expenditure on research & development is £5.0 billion (automotive £2.7 billion and aerospace £2.1 billion).
• The products and technologies of the Chemical industry are essential parts of medicines, food & drink, telecommunications, energy-saving, I.T, clothing and much more.
• For every tonne of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emitted, our products and technologies enable over 2 tonnes of GHG emissions savings.