Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Channel 12: Airspace closed at Ramon Airport due to fears of drone infiltration
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded over an aircraft infiltration in the Bir Ora area, and details are being examined
Drone infiltration sirens sound north of the Gulf of Aqaba
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out five extremely violent raids on the western areas of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out major bombings in the Gaza Strip, the most violent since October 7
Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree: The missile force carried out a major operation using the Palestine 2 ballistic hypersonic missile, hitting several targets in occupied Yafa.
Sirens sound in large areas of occupied Palestine after a missile launch from Yemen was detected
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: 14 martyrs arrive at al-Shifa Hospital following Israeli massacre of al-Sultan Family north of Gaza.
Qatari PM: We must not surrender to the arrogance of extremists and pursue our quest for a 'two-state solution'
Qatari PM: The only path to peace begins through negotiations and a ceasefire

Banned chemicals in EU since Brexit still allowed for use in UK

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 16 Sep 2023 16:31
3 Min Read

It has been discovered this week that dozens of pesticides forbidden in the EU are still permitted for use in the UK, which has prompted campaigners to state that the delays indicate vows made by ministers after Brexit may have been broken.

  • x
  • File photo of an EU flag and a Union flag seen with Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben) and the Houses of Parliament in London taken on March 25, 2017 (AFP)
    File photo of an EU flag and a Union flag seen with Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben) and the Houses of Parliament in London taken on March 25, 2017. (AFP)

Since Brexit, many toxic chemicals have been banned in the EU but are still allowed for use in the UK, setting higher expectations for health risks to the public.

Even though the UK has not participated in the EU’s chemicals regulations scheme since 2021, it has its own scheme called Reach. Since 2021, eight rules banning hazardous chemicals have been adopted by the EU, and 16 more are to be added.

Currently, the UK is only contemplating two restrictions on lead ammunition and harmful substances in tattoo ink.

The latest additions to the UK’s “substances of very high concern” list were over three years ago, in June 2020, while the European Chemicals Agency has added 26 substances so far to to its equivalent list.

Read next: Disposable e-cigarettes to be banned in England

The substances are primarily categorized as carcinogenic or affecting the reproductive system, in addition to being persistent in the environment and bio-accumulative. Companies are obliged to notify consumers immediately about safe levels of a chemical when it is added to the list.

Related News

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham intend to deploy toxic materials in Aleppo, Idlib

Toxic PFAS absorbed through skin at levels higher than thought

Broken promises 

Chloe Alexander, of the Chem Trust charity, explained: “The EU’s regime has a very effective role in driving innovation into finding much safer alternatives to substances on that list, as the list is a sign further regulation on these substances is likely to happen. There is a deregulatory drive too; there is now a higher evidence threshold in the UK. It requires endless reviews before taking regulatory action."

“They look at what the EU is doing and say: We need more evidence. Everything is happening much slower. The EU has very thorough risk assessments, companies across the world can input into them. There is absolutely no reason why we should not adopt those EU controls, and it also poses problems for trading with the EU if we continue to fall further and further behind.”

This comes after it was discovered this week that dozens of pesticides forbidden in the EU are still permitted for use in the UK, which has prompted campaigners to state that the delays indicate vows made by ministers after Brexit may have been broken.

Back in June 2017, when the chair of the environmental audit committee asked former environment secretary Michael Gove how the UK should regulate chemicals, all he said was "better”.

Read next: Target to clean UK water bodies pushed back 30 years - 2027 to 2063

Roz Bulleid, of the Green Alliance think tank noted: “The UK played a key role in setting up the EU’s gold standard chemicals regime, and yet now we are administering our own cut-price system and lagging behind the EU in tracking and regulating harmful substances. It shows that government promises of maintaining environmental protections through Brexit are not being kept to."

“The government recently paved the way for the UK to rejoin the Horizon [research] program. It surely makes sense for this government or the next to seek greater cooperation on chemicals and enhance protection for the public and our environment.”

  • toxic chemical
  • Brexit
  • United Kingdom
  • European Union

Most Read

The damaged building in the Katara neighborhood, Doha, Qatar, September 9, 2025 (Social media)

Hamas delegation survives Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar

  • Politics
  • 9 Sep 2025
Israeli police and rescue teams respond at the scene of a shooting attack where several people killed and injured in Jerusalem, Monday, Sept. 8, 2025 (AP)

Al-Quds shooting: 7 settlers killed, several critically injured

  • Politics
  • 8 Sep 2025
Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

Pro-'Israel' far-right Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Damage sustained after a Yemeni drone exploded in Ramon Airport, southern occupied Palestine, Sunday, September 7, 2025 (Social Media)

Yemeni drone successfully hits Ramon Airport in southern Palestine

  • Politics
  • 7 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Palestinians run for cover during an Israeli military strike on a building in Gaza City, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Yousef Al Zanoun)
Politics

Israeli bombs kill 45 in Gaza as schools, homes targeted

Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization
Palestine

Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

Hamas: Over one million in Gaza face ethnic cleansing
Palestine

Over one million in Gaza face ethnic cleansing: Palestinian Resistance

Head of the National Security Committee in Iran’s Parliament, MP Ebrahim Azizi. (Tasnim News Agency)
Politics

Iran parliament security chief: NPT exit on table if snapback invoked

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS