SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT serious manufacturing challenges or even the non-availability of products downstream . In a recent survey carried out by the Chemical Business Association ( CBA ), 93 % of its members , which include chemical distributors , manufacturers , and logistics services providers that represent the greater part of the UK ’ s chemical supply chain , said they were having supply chain problems , up more than 30 % from an already alltime high just three months earlier . In the meantime , supplies of key chemical components , many operating on a just-in-time basis have become erratic , with consequences for the manufacturing and process industries . This is a critical issue not only for the affected industries , but also for the wider UK and global economy . Of course , geopolitical uncertainty is another risk , with the current Russia-Ukraine crisis wreaking further havoc on an already incredibly disrupted supply chain . On top of these challenges , the chemical supply chain is facing increasingly strict compliance regulations .
Compliance within reach
Myriad laws regulate the chemical industry and industries that use chemicals . In fact , chemical legislation is as wide-ranging as the possible chemical applications . With multiple moving parts and many stakeholders involved , it is challenging for companies everywhere to keep operations compliant and running smoothly . To prevent risks like breaches of regulations , laws , or international agreements – and the ensuing fines and reputational damage – compliance with legal requirements as well as commitments to environmental , human , and ethical behaviour are prerequisites for the chemical supply chain . Considering this , an area of major concern is UK REACH . Introduced following Brexit , it is effectively a replication of EU REACH . It carries significant penalties for non-compliance with both UK and EU REACH rules . With companies challenged not only with achieving compliance , but also with protecting their trading and outsourcing arrangements against future regulatory divergence and rising compliance costs , the CBA has raised concerns about the practicality and workability of UK REACH , and the need for duplication and repeated costs from the outset . The association has continued to press the government on these issues . In late 2021 , it achieved a significant breakthrough when the Department for the Enviroment , Food & Rural Affairs announced that it would consult on extending the deadlines for UK REACH and investigate a new data model that would be workable and affordable for business and deliver the appropriate levels of data to support UK REACH registrations .
Leading the charge
The CBA has been the voice of the UK chemical supply chain industry for almost a century and continuously takes the lead on issues affecting the industry . One of its main roles is to lobby and advocate on behalf of its members . This is something it does at the highest levels and over the years , industry has benefitted significantly from the association ’ s interventions . Specifically , its leadership in highlighting and addressing the HGV driver shortage issue in the UK led to the introduction of various shortand medium-term remedies , with the CBA continuing to work with various stakeholders towards more longterm solutions .
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