Medical Equipment: Cobalt

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs written question – answered at on 4 December 2018.

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Photo of Madeleine Moon Madeleine Moon Chair, Defence Sub-Committee, Chair, Defence Sub-Committee

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on the operation of the UK-EU medical devices supply chain of the ongoing use of cobalt in UK-manufactured medical devices in the event that the UK is no longer subject to EU REACH regulations; and if he will make a statement.

Photo of Therese Coffey Therese Coffey The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

To provide continuity for businesses in a no deal scenario, the EU Withdrawal Act copies EU legislation into UK law, including REACH, as far as possible. This means that the requirements established through these regulations will continue to apply in the UK. This includes retaining all exemptions that remain applicable, including chemicals used in medical products or equipment. By doing this we would minimise disruption to the supply in chemicals.

While it would not be appropriate to pre-judge the outcome of negotiations regarding the Future Economic Partnership, we will discuss with the EU and Member States how best to continue cooperation in chemicals regulation in the best interests of both the UK and the EU.

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