Chemicals logistics and the EC Mobility Package

Background

In its efforts to modernise Europe’s transport system, the European Commission has published a Mobility Package, which contains important proposals to improve the social aspects of road transport and to harmonise road charging. For the chemical industry, safety of workers combined with efficient, competitive and sustainable logistics are of essence, as the industry depends to a large extent on trade. Furthermore, ensuring safe transport and handling of our products, with care for the environment and in full accordance with regulations, is at the core  of our logistics operations.

Harmonised regulation needed

The chemicals supply chain and logistics represent 10% of the total turnover of chemical companies, and more than 1 billion tonnes of chemicals are transported annually in Europe. Chemical transportation and logistics thus translates into a large network impacting European society at many levels, from social to environmental. The chemical manufacturers, carriers, and third-party logistics providers who deal with the products naturally must comply with various sets of regulations, all aimed at ensuring the safety of workers and sustainability of our transport operations. However, in  past years the logistics sector has been  confronted with several national regulations and different national interpretation of existing European Directives that may cause the dislocation of certain players in the supply chain, because there is no level-playing field. To keep the capacity and efficiency of the supply chain to the maximum, the European chemical sector, together with other industries relies on a fully functioning single market with harmonised regulation. Therefore, the 2017 EC Mobility Package is an important step in creating a European wide policy and a regulatory framework that allows competitive and sustainable freight and transport logistics.

Cefic position

Cefic welcomes the European Mobility Package, which contains important proposals to improve the social aspects of road transport and to harmonise road charging. We encourage the European Commission to continue to challenge internal market fragmentation and counter national measures that unduly hamper free movement of goods. Furthermore, we support concrete actions that tackle internal market fragmentation and create a level playing field across Europe. Better and clear European rules will ensure that truck drivers can work under fair circumstances, reduce the burden on companies and will support free movement of goods. For full details on the Cefic position on driving and rest times, posting of workers in road transport, rules for cabotage, and on road charging and combined transport, please see our position paper.