Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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797. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she has raised the future status of the UK as a member of the European Chemicals Agency with her UK and EU counterparts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11354/17]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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European chemicals legislation has undergone much change in recent years with the introduction of key EU Regulations such as the “REACH” Regulation 1907/2006 (governing the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) and the “CLP” Regulation 1272/2008 (Classification, Labelling and Packaging of hazardous chemicals). The aim of REACH is to protect both human health and the environment.

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) ensures the consistent implementation of the “REACH” and “CLP” Regulations (together with EU Regulations governing biocides and the export/import of hazardous chemicals) across the European Union and the countries in the European Economic Area.

There are a number of Government Departments and Agencies involved in the regulation of chemicals in Ireland. The Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation has the lead responsibility for chemicals policy and for developing the enforcement regime associated with REACH. An agency of my Department, the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), is the principal competent authority under the Chemicals Acts 2008 and 2010. In addition, other bodies have also been designated as competent authorities with responsibility under these Acts for particular aspects of REACH, including the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The UK Government has not yet indicated how it envisages the future of chemicals regulation in the UK after the Referendum result. In the United Kingdom, the Minister responsible for chemicals policy is the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. I am not aware that the topic of the future status of the UK as a member of the European Chemicals Agency has arisen at any of the series of regular contacts that have taken place between the UK Minister and her Irish and other EU counterparts.

My Department is monitoring developments closely in conjunction with the other relevant Government Departments and Agencies, including the HSA, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment; and the EPA. My Department is also following work being undertaken by the UK House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee which is conducting an inquiry into the future of environmental law and policy following the result of the EU Referendum. That parliamentary inquiry will focus on the future of REACH and will consider, for instance, whether administrative and enforcement responsibilities, which are currently discharged by the European Commission or ECHA, will need to be transferred to national authorities in the UK.

The UK’s decision to leave the European Union will impact significantly on policy fields across all Government Departments. However as negotiations on the UK’s exit have not yet commenced it is not possible to pre-empt the outcome at this stage. That said, the Government’s preparation remains extensive and ongoing across all key issues and sectors. Both risks and opportunities arising from Brexit are being analysed and considered.