BCF, BASA seminar helps industry prepare for Brexit at the halfway mark

In April, the British Coatings Federation (BCF) and the British Adhesives and Sealants Association (BASA) joined forces to host a ‘Halfway to Brexit’ seminar to highlight the economic and political implications of Brexit on the global coatings and adhesives industries.

The seminar, in Nottingham, UK, was attended by over 80 delegates, including representatives from both industries, the press and several government officials.

The seminar marked the halfway point to Brexit, and with the October deadline for an agreement between the UK and the EU approaching, both speakers and attendees highlighted the need to have a good deal for industry, which works both for the UK and European business community.

Speakers Richard Rumbelow, from manufacturing and engineering association EEF, and Julie Girling MEP opened the seminar with a look at the politics of Brexit and the impact it could have for chemical using industries. Girling gave an insight into negotiations as a working MEP, and the repercussions on industry of the UK not staying within the EU chemicals regulatory framework. Peter Smith from CEFIC highlighted the significant contribution the UK chemicals industry had made towards REACH, whilst Jean-Marc Barki, FEICA, and Martin Engelmann, VdL, gave overviews of how Brexit will affect the coatings and adhesives industries in their countries and the EU. All three participated in a panel discussion taking questions from the audience. A second panel discussion featured members of BCF and BASA including U-POL, Centre Colours, Jotun Paints, FSi, Hodgson Sealants and BASF. Elizabeth Shepherd, Eversheds Sutherland, and Richard Collin, BSI Group, also contributed with views on how Brexit might impact their business, standards and compliance and how they are working to prepare for March 2019.