EU seeks global standard with major chemical reform
Source: Reuters
(Updates with Verheugen, Pekkarinen, industry, U.S., activists) By Jeff Mason STRASBOURG, France, Dec 13 (Reuters) - The European Parliament approved a landmark law on Wednesday to regulate toxic chemicals, aiming to set a global standard after years of fierce debate between industry and environmental campaigners. Known as REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals), the bill requires companies to prove substances in everyday products from cars to clothes to computers are safe. EU lawmakers voted overwhelmingly in favour of a compromise that will force industry to substitute especially dangerous chemicals with safer ones when alternatives are available. REACH allows most substances requiring authorisation to be approved if they can be adequately controlled. "We're setting standards worldwide, really, and I'm sure people will follow us," EU Industry Commissioner Guenter Verheugen told a news conference. "Europe will be a forerunner in producing safe products -- not just for Europe but for the entire global market," said Finnish Trade and Industry Minister Mauri Pekkarinen, whose country holds the EU's rotating presidency. REACH is meant to close a loophole in EU law that does not require information on chemicals put on the market before 1981. Environmentalists complained the rules were watered down and loopholes that were should have been closed still remain. REACH requires the properties of roughly 30,000 chemicals produced or imported in the EU to be registered with a Helsinki-based agency. Those of highest concern, such as carcinogens, would require testing and authorisation, a process that could lead to outright bans. The law's detractors include the United States on trade grounds, African nations anxious about exports to the EU, animal rights groups, who forecast a huge increase in tests on animals, and the metals sector, alarmed at the cost. "We believe the final version may create new and unnecessary impediments to trade at a time when we are trying to increase integration across the Atlantic," a spokesman for the U.S. mission to the EU said, voicing disappointment its views, among others, were not taken fully into account. EU governments, which have previously agreed to the deal with lawmakers, are expected to give formal approval on Monday. The law is slated to come into force on June 1, 2007. IMPLEMENTATION BEGINS, BENEFITS QUESTIONED The law requires persistent, bio-accumulative and toxic chemicals to be removed from the market if suitable alternatives exist. Companies would have to submit a "substitution plan" when seeking authorisation for the roughly 1,500 chemicals expected to be considered of high concern if alternatives exist. If they can be adequately controlled, the substances will be approved. "We regret the unnecessary requirements added to the authorisation element of REACH," said Alain Perroy, director general of Cefic, a lobby group for the European chemicals industry. But he added: "The industry wants to make REACH work." The European Commission forecasts the legislation will cost industry between 2.8 billion and 5.2 billion euros ($3.7 billion to $6.9 billion) over 11 years. Health benefits would be worth much more, it says. Consumer and environmental campaigners, including WWF and Greenpeace, said in a statement that major loopholes in REACH will still allow many chemicals that pose serious health risks to continue to be used in manufacturing and consumer goods. "It is far too early to judge if the new regulation will offer much greater protection to EU citizens from hazardous chemicals," Swedish Greens lawmaker Carl Schlyter said. All amendments proposed by the Greens were rejected. In the parliament 529 lawmakers voted in favour of the package deal, while 98 voted against and 24 abstained. For a factbox on REACH, please click on: [ID:nL13178767].
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