Tuesday 20 July 2004

"Whilst, the Government agrees that the aim of REACH should be that the substances of high concern are eventually replaced and substituted with safer alternatives, they fall short of recommending the mandatory substitution of hazardous chemicals with safer alternatives. Instead, they choose to rely on 'adequate control' of these substances by industry, but this has failed to protect people and wildlife from toxic chemicals in the past" said Mathew Wilkinson, WWF Head of Toxics.

"WWF believes that only mandatory substitution will provide the incentive the chemical industry needs to innovate and develop greener, safer products that we all want. The Government recognises that by stimulating innovation, REACH provides a real opportunity for the UK chemical industry."

WWF is pleased that the Government views REACH as an opportunity to address the threat from hazardous chemicals and also recognises that the health benefits to the public and cost savings to the National Health Service far outweigh the limited costs to industry of introducing this legislation.

The Government's acknowledgement of a need for a strategic approach to research the fate and behaviour of chemicals in the environment recognises the urgent need for research such as WWF's biomonitoring programmes that is uncovering extensive human contamination around the UK and Europe.

In addition,

• WWF urges the Government to pursue the very worthwhile goal of one substance - one Registration, which will minimise testing, costs and bureaucracy.


• WWF urges the Government to commit its support to specific time-limited authorisations. This is the best way minimise uncertainty to industry and to stimulate innovation which is so critical to the chemical industry


• WWF maintains that the integrity of the data on chemicals submitted to the Central Agency is vital to the success of REACH and should therefore be independently scrutinised.