Business group Logistics UK is urging the government to prioritise the needs of the logistics industry, as Parliament continues to debate the Retained EU Law bill.
As Kate Jennings, the group’s policy director, explains, while regulatory simplification has its benefits, the scale of the task ahead of the government must not be underestimated if the UK’s highly-interconnected supply chain is to be protected:
“Logistics underpins the whole economy and so is affected by changes to legislation relating to a wide range of areas, including employment, safety, the environment, competition and finance. With so many processes subject to potential change, there is a real risk of putting our sector into limbo.”
“We have demonstrated time and again over the past few years that logistics is agile and flexible – coping with challenges ranging from the Covid-19 pandemic to EU exit, IR35 reforms and the supply chain shocks caused by driver shortages and the impact of the war in Ukraine, as well as political uncertainty and rising inflation. Easing the regulations governing our sector could save costs, drive efficiency and competition. However, our members want clarification that change will not compromise standards and safety for staff and businesses, as well as the wider public.”
According to the government, more than 2,400 pieces of retained EU law are currently in scope under the proposed legislation. Ms Jennings is urging government to reassure logistics businesses that they will have time to adopt any new business practices or apply new regulations with no risk to the supply chain: