Tuesday 8 July 2003

The demand for a toxics free future, signed by more than 22,000 people as well as public interest organisations, calls on the European Commission to protect health and the environment from hazardous chemicals. The submission was presented to European Commissioner Wallstrom in this the last week of the consultation on the draft directive on the proposed REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals) legislation.

The coalition members are WWF, the European Consumers Organisation, European Environmental Bureau, European Public Health Alliance, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace and Women in Europe for a Common Future. In addition to the coalition of groups presenting the demand, it was also supported by organisations including the Netherlands' Council of Women, the German Childbirth Association, and the British Allergy Foundation.

The coalition presented the demand requesting that the Commission listens to the people and accepts their submission as part of the ongoing Internet consultation on the draft legislation, ending on July 10. The demand asks the European Commission to ensure that its new REACH legislation on chemicals includes:

• an obligation to phase out and substitute chemicals that accumulate in wildlife, humans or the environment, and those that disrupt hormones. Restricted uses of such chemicals should only be permitted temporarily, if safer alternatives are not available, and the use is essential to society;


• a full right to know, for both consumers and businesses, including what chemicals are present in products;


• a requirement that products imported into the EU have to conform to the same safety standards as those made in the EU.

The widespread contamination of people and wildlife with man-made chemicals is well documented: 300 man-made chemicals have been found in the bodies of people with no special exposure to chemicals; and many man-made chemicals have been founded in house dust and rainwater.

A recent report by eminent UK scientists confirmed the need for a fundamental reform of chemicals policy. One of its authors stated "Given our understanding of the way chemicals interact with the environment, you could say we are running a gigantic experiment with humans and all other living things as the subject". The report also endorsed the importance of substituting the worst chemicals with safer alternatives.

In addition to the 22,000 citizens calling for strong EU legislation on chemicals, a separate declaration in favour of REACH has been submitted by over 60 US organisations (including the Communications Workers of America and The Breast Cancer Fund) and signed by more than 10,000 US citizens. In order to make REACH work for civil society, WWF European Environmental Bureau, Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace are also submitting detailed joint comments to the Commission's consultation which ends on July 10.