34 | Sector Focus: Coatings & Finishes
COATINGS SECTOR HOPES FOR STABILITY
Sally Spencer spoke to British Coatings Federation chief executive Tom Bowtell about the challenges and opportunities for the coatings and finishes sector in 2023
TTJ: AT THE START OF 2022 YOU WERE CONCERNED THAT NOT ENOUGH COMPANIES HAD GOT TO GRIPS WITH THE NEW, POST-BREXIT PAPERWORK AND PROCESSES. HAS THAT IMPROVED? Tom Bowtell: Companies have got to grips with the new import/export processes through time, training and experience. However, those processes still add time and complexity to trade and that in turn means extra costs. A survey we carried out in 2022 showed that 59% reported increased operating costs due to Brexit of more than 4%, 32% said it had added more than 6%, while 10% had experienced additional costs of more than 15%.
TTJ: CAN YOU RECAP ON WHAT YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE PLANNED UK REACH (REGISTRATION, EVALUATION, AUTHORISATION AND RESTRICTION OF CHEMICALS) SYSTEM ARE? TB: UK REACH will potentially reduce the range and increase the cost of raw materials for the paints, coatings and woodcare manufacturers. Defra has recently confirmed that transitional registration deadlines for UK REACH are being put back from the original 2023, 2025 and 2027 for the various tonnage bands, to 2026, 2028 and 2030. This is to allow a new transitional registration model to be developed as Defra had agreed the original plan, which its own figures estimate would have cost industry between £1bn to £3bn, was too expensive. We welcome that delay as long as we can actually come up with a more proportionate and workable model for our sector’s use of chemical substances. Otherwise, we are simply kicking the can down the road and just generating more uncertainty for businesses at a time when they desperately need some stability.
Above: Tom Bowtell is CEO of the British Coatings Federation TTJ | January/February 2023 |
www.ttjonline.com
TTJ: ARE THERE ANY OTHER REGULATORY CHALLENGES COMING DOWN THE TRACK? TB: The UK is still working on its own chemicals strategy, as well as GB-only versions of biocides and preservatives legislation, which is critical for the timber sector and classification and labelling laws
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