Monday 27 October 2003

Potentially costing a mere 0.05 per cent of the chemical industry's turnover over ten years, the legislation, known as REACH, should lead to the identification and better control, or phasing out of the most harmful chemicals.

However, a recently leaked text indicates that intense pressure from industry has taken its toll. Wednesday's draft is expected to be considerably weaker than the one presented for consultation earlier this year. Key changes in this leaked text included:

• a large reduction in the safety information required for two thirds of chemicals (those produced in quantities of 1 to 10 tonnes per year which account for around 20,000 of the 30,000 chemicals on the market);


• granting business excessive confidentiality rights, with anonymity to any company that registers its chemicals;


• reducing protection from chemicals in products imported into the EU. Unless the product is designed to release a chemical, companies do not have to worry if the product contains chemicals unregistered in the EU;


• continuing to allow the use of hazardous chemicals even when they can be substituted with safer alternatives.

WWF and other NGOs are pushing for Commissioners to address these key concerns when they meet on Wednesday and publish the draft legislation.

"REACH could bring world-wide benefits for human health and the environment. But it looks as if the European Commission has given too many concessions to industry," said Justin Woolford, leader of the WWF Chemicals and Health Campaign. "WWF will be looking to the European Parliament and EU governments to redress the balance. It is time to put the health of future generations of people and animals at the heart of this debate."