Labour Research June 2021

Health & Safety Matters

Chemicals strategy

Safety groups including the Alliance for Cancer Prevention and the Hazards Campaign have joined a group of 27 public health and environmental NGOs calling on the government to implement “12 key asks” they say are fundamental to the UK’s new chemicals strategy.

The Health and Safety Executive recently highlighted its approach to setting workplace exposure limits for hazardous substances in Great Britain following the end of the EU transition period.

A joint letter from the NGOs to the UK government highlights a wide range of serious health concerns linked to hazardous chemicals. The Alliance is particularly concerned about exposure to hazardous chemicals linked to cancer.

The 12 key asks include: applying the “precautionary principle”; phasing out the most hazardous and persistent chemicals; a plan to address endocrine disrupting chemicals; addressing the combined exposure to chemicals known as “the cocktail effect”; and remaining aligned with “the world leading chemical regulation”, EU REACH.

https://allianceforcancerprevention.org.uk/2021/05/11/12-key-priority-asks-for-the-uks-new-chemicals-strategy