THE UK's chemical regulators are considerably worse than their European counterparts, according to the boss of AIM-listed biopesticide firm Eden Research.

Sean Smith, CEO of Eden Research, told City A.M. that the Chemical Regulations Division, which sits with in the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), has not granted approval on products despite them being approved by the European Union.

"The UK regulators are really not doing us any favours," Smith said. "They seem to hold themselves in very high regard and consider themselves to operate at a higher standard than other European counterparts."

Eden Research, which makes pesticides from natural plant chemistry rather than toxic or damaging artificial chemicals, has been granted approval on its products in dozens of countries, including the US and countries in Europe.

But Smith said British regulators have been dragging their feet, refusing to expedite their application.

"It's not just us, everybody has the same problem," Smith said. "We're having to go through all these expensive and time-consuming hoops."

The HSE was contacted for comment.

(c) 2024 City A.M., source Newspaper