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Post-Brexit skills shortage could hamper UK chemicals agency

The UK would "struggle tremendously" to set up its own chemicals agency post-Brexit because of a severe skills shortage, according to four leading toxicology experts speaking at the first session of the UK Environmental Audit Committee's inquiry into toxic chemicals in everyday life."There has been a tremendous lack of funding over many years from the research councils for training students in ecotoxicology, toxicology and environmental chemistry," said Michael Depledge from the University of Exeter's Medical School.The scientists – all of whom are on Defra's Hazardous Substances Advisory Committee (HSAC) – strongly advised that the UK should continue to follow EU chemical regulations, because the UK does not have the expertise to replace them. "Sticking with the EU would be by far the wisest thing that we could do," said John Sumpter from Brunel University London.Andrew Johnson from research organisation the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology warned that "it would be alarming to lose a lot of the collaboration and expertise and benefits that we get from Echa, should we be put in that position". But, he added, it would be valuable for the UK to be able to review its approach to chemical regulation. "We shouldn't be afraid of getting the best knowledge and expertise from around the world, learning from that previous experience."

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LyondellBasell | February 02, 2024

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Chemical Management

LyondellBasell & MSI Technology, LLC Collaborate on Innovative Consumer Packaging

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