Page 22 - CTPA-Annual-Report-2019-book

5 Charting a Steady Course: Facilitate, Protect, Promote & Lead
PROTECT against non-science
As a qualified pharmacist, science-based decision-making is central to everything I do. This is also true of CTPA. However, we are operating in a world where news stories, policy developments and public opinion can be influenced by emotion as much as, if not more than, by scientific fact.
We know that issues can escalate quickly and make a lasting impact on trust, which is why CTPA took an agile approach to hundreds of incoming media enquiries across 2019. We acted fast to put forward the industry’s science-based perspective on safety issues as far-ranging as sunscreen efficacy, hair dyes and relaxers, and allergies to artificial nails. We also tackled increased scrutiny on sustainability, with palm oil, packaging waste and sunscreens’ environmental credentials among the topics making waves both on and offline.
In every case we offered bite-sized facts and quotes from our in-house experts or, where required, drafted comprehensive news items for our refreshed consumer website, www.thefactsabout.co.uk. Traffic to the site peaks when media issues arise, proving the valuable role it plays in helping journalists and concerned consumers separate science from scare story, and putting the facts about our safe products into perspective.
Alongside media engagement, CTPA continued to expand its relationships with UK policymakers in 2019 to protect legislation from non-science. We monitored the issue of plastic microbeads closely to ensure recommendations and legislation remain supported by science; continued
to engage on UK REACH; and promoted the case for a
Free Trade Agreement post-EU Exit, while preparing members for all eventualities.
PROMOTE best practice across industry
As the trusted voice of our industry in the UK, CTPA is an active advocate for our members, convening experts and policymakers to inform and drive science-based policymaking that protects human health and the environment while avoiding unforeseen consequences for business.
In 2019 we provided advice and training to officials in
BEIS, OPSS, Trading Standards, the Department for International Trade (DIT) and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) across a range of policy areas including the possible implementation of the UK regulatory systems and platforms, new discussions around trade with the EU and other regions worldwide and product classification in the borderline space.
I was also invited to speak, alongside several members,
at a panel hosted by the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Beauty, Aesthetics and Wellbeing. The group, which was set up by prominent campaigner Carolyn Harris MP, celebrates the social and economic contribution the sectors make to the UK economy and works with the industry
to address challenges. The ‘beauty and the (plastic) beast’ event was a great opportunity to brief policymakers and industry experts on CTPA’s sustainability strategy and the industry’s shared efforts to protect our environment;
and it was clear that MPs share our goal of legislation that protects our environment but avoids unforeseen negative consequences. Alongside these set piece moments,
we continued ourdrumbeat activity sharing educational resources to amplify best practice and build trust and reputation for the industry including online resources for non-members. We relaunched and enhanced the CTPA’s public website to offer tailored tools and information for members, while adding an in-depth FAQs section for non-members, to arm industry with the latest best practice and useful information.
22