Are you ready for Brexit?Chemical companies need to be prepared for various outcomes affecting the chemical industry in a post-Brexit United Kingdom

On March 30, 2019, the UK was supposed to leave the EU and become a third country (“Brexit”). As there is still no certainty that there will be a ratified withdrawal agreement in place on that date, or what it will entail, the EU Commission expects that the UK's withdrawal will undoubtedly cause disruption to many industries, including chemical distribution.

The current political situation in the UK remains clouded in uncertainty. Agencies in Europe and the UK are gearing up to manage the UK leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement in place.

In this worst-case scenario (“no-deal Brexit”), it is currently envisaged that REACH could cease to be applicable after the Brexit date. Due to the current status of the negotiations, this scenario grows more likely. In this scenario, the UK would be considered a "third country": based outside the EU under the REACH regulation and unable to act as a registrant. In addition, current REACH registrations made by entities based in the UK would no longer be valid.

DKSH acts as a distributor and importer in the UK and also has suppliers located in the UK. In order to overcome any potential business disruption and anticipate the future regulatory environment in the UK, DKSH has established a “Brexit Task Force” consisting of regulatory affairs, business and management representatives. This task force meets on regular basis to prepare and monitor all regulatory and business process plans and resourcing to ensure business continuity to our customers.

If you have any questions regarding DKSH’s preparation for Brexit, please contact DKSH Regulatory Affairs Europe at brexit@dksh.com