Brexit brings EU duty risk for UK paint exports

With the UK government saying it intends to push ahead with withdrawing Britain from the European Union (EU) following the June 23 referendum Brexit vote, the risk of the EU imposing import duties on British paint and coatings exports becomes more likely. If the UK government refuses to allow EU citizens the right to live and work in Britain, it may become excluded from the EU single market and World Trade Organisation (WTO) duties could be levied on UK products being sold into the EU. For instance, these currently include 6.5% duties on exports to the EU polymer-based paints and varnishes (including enamels and lacquers) in water of a non-aqueous medium; oil paints and oil-based varnishes; and artists’ paints.

Meanwhile, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has said paints and coatings companies and their suppliers testing the safety of chemicals on animals, must demonstrate they have explored all non-animal test methods before going ahead with such experiments.

In advice on the upcoming ECHA work programme ahead of its next registration deadline in May 2018, the agency said: "Before any new tests involving vertebrate animals are commissioned, full use of alternative approaches must be made first.”

The agency has released new practical advice ‘on information requirements for low-tonnage chemicals, how to avoid unnecessary testing on animals’. This is especially important given the REACH chemical control system May 2018 registration is for chemicals that companies make or import in volumes as little as one tonne/yr, where reducing regulation-related costs can be vital to maintain profitability.

https://echa.europa.eu/support/registration/how-to-avoid-unnecessary-testing-on-animals

* ECHA has released a new version 3.4 of its Toolbox to aid REACH registrations – chemical registrants use the system to fulfil their REACH animal test obligations. Three new databases have been added with more than 10,000 test results, helping companies avoid animal assessment. Also, five metabolic simulators have been updated and one new in vivo rat simulator, boosting the reliability of in vitro test predictions. http://toolbox.oasis-lmc.org/?section=download&version=latest

* ECHA has also released a new version of its R4BP 3 system to help companies involved in the EU’s biocidal product review, including submitting declarations of interest notifying active substance and product-type combinations. It also helps companies submit dossiers on active substances. And also add, replace and withdraw the names of companies that have an interest in the substances under review. See https://echa.europa.eu/documents/10162/21779840/r4bp3.7_QA.pdf