The Impact of a ‘no-deal’ Brexit on Biocidal Products Regulation
The 31st October 2019 remains as the current deadline for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union, with or without a deal in-place. Businesses need to be aware of the potential impacts a ‘no-deal’ Brexit could have on their current and future Biocidal products registered under BPR.
Businesses in the chemical industry are faced with continued uncertainty as the UK and EU are yet to agree on the terms of the departure.
If a withdrawal agreement can be reached before the end of October, an implementation period will follow, where UK-EU trade will be able to continue on the same terms as now until this period comes to an end. However, there is a very real possibility that no such deal will be agreed, forcing a scenario where the UK will look to establish its own separate system for biocidal product registrations, UK BPR. Companies wishing to register their biocidal products in both the EU/EEA and the UK will have to complete the registration process for both the EU BPR and UK BPR systems.
The UK competent authority, HSE, have issued guidance for business which outlines plans for the UK regulation of biocidal products during both an implementation period[1] and in the event of a no-deal scenario,[2] along with the necessary measures businesses will need to take in order to be prepared.