Supply chains can be simple – source raw materials; manufacture excellent products; ship the products to customers; and service those products and customers over the lifetime of the product.
That is, of course, until they are not.
Many producers breathed a collective sigh of relief when they managed to navigate the initial choppy waters of BREXIT. When GB exited the transition period in January 2021, for the most part, product continued to flow, albeit with some extra steps and costs in the process.
In mid-2023, we will face a series of additional changes as the regulatory frameworks associated with the UK’s independence also come into force. At the same time, the UK is setting out its future border operating model, and like many other jurisdictions, it is also increasing its focus on sustainability measures.
Some of these changes include:
- Product labelling requirements for the UK market
- Product compliance regulations: UKCA mark, UK REACH
- Extended producer responsibility requirements for packaging
- Deposit return schemes
- Implementation of the Windsor framework for product movements in Northern Ireland
- Rollout of the UK’s new Border Operating Model
We are also seeing some divergence in standards between the EU and the UK, which will create further challenges in developing products that satisfy regulatory requirements in both jurisdictions.
This is a time when it is important for product and supply chain teams to proactively engage with industry associations, government bodies, and support partners to understand upcoming changes. We will be publishing regular insights on our Supply Chain Enabled blog, and people can sign up here to receive updates.
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