REFILE-Talks on EU chemicals reform stalled ahead of vote
Source: Reuters
(Refiles story sent Monday night, no changes to text) BRUSSELS, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Talks between European Union lawmakers and EU governments over a far-reaching reform of the chemicals sector stalled on Monday just weeks before an important vote in the European Parliament. The bill, known as REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals), was designed to make companies prove substances in everyday products such as cars, computers or paint are safe. EU states, the parliament and the executive European Commission are negotiating changes to the bill before it goes before the full parliament for a second-reading vote, scheduled for mid-December. As that deadline approaches, talks were suspended late on Monday after a German conservative member of parliament said he needed more time to consult with his party, according to sources familiar with the talks. One source said the talks were interrupted, not over, and would resume later this week. "It has not broken down. It will be continued after (a) suspension," the source said. According to REACH, the properties of roughly 30,000 chemicals produced or imported in the European Union would have to be registered with a central agency. Those of highest concern, such as carcinogens, would require testing and authorisation. The European Parliament's environment committee in October voted in favour of an amendment that would deny approval for dangerous chemicals if suitable alternatives exist. That conflicted with a version of the bill supported by EU governments which would authorise some toxic chemicals if companies can prove they can be adequately controlled. Some governments are worried about the potential cost of the new rules to their industries at a time of growing global competition. If a deal is not struck, the vote will go ahead but differences between the parliament version of the bill and the one supported by member states would have to be thrashed out in a conciliation procedure which could stretch far into 2007.
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