The UK's departure from the EU has created uncertainty and potential divergence in the regulation of chemicals, which could impact both human health and the environment. In addition, it is estimated that not participating in the REACH regulatory framework imposes an additional cost of around £1 billion annually. This could also create barriers to trade with the EU and other global partners, which could harm the competitiveness of UK industries. While full alignment is not possible outside of the EEA, Switzerland adheres to EU decisions on harmful chemicals as a starting point, and still retains the ability to diverge where necessary.