Posted on June, 09 2006

The statement on the future EU chemicals policy issued on 8 June by the US and other “EU trading partners” is out of date and fails to take account of the changes made to REACH by the Council and Parliament at First reading.

The statement raises concerns over developing countries and their Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs). However, a recent report by the European Parliament’s Development Committee showed that the costs will – predominantly be borne by the large multi-national chemical companies exporting a few bulk chemicals – and not the developing countries themselves or local SMEs. The analysis estimated the costs to the chemical companies operating in developing (ACP) countries to be just €50 million over 11 years.

The statement fails to acknowledge the significant benefits to developing countries as the generated safety information will allow developing countries to prevent occupational illnesses and ensure worker safety. REACH will also facilitate developing countries’ efforts to create domestic systems for sound chemicals management. Many developing countries have only rudimentary systems for chemicals management, or have no legislation and administrative capacity on chemicals at all.

The statement also presses for a more risk-based authorisation process, yet substances will already be prioritised through authorisation entirely on the basis of risk. The statement also calls for exemptions from Authorisation for ores and concentrates on the basis of existing legislation. However, Authorisation already allows for exemptions on the basis of existing EU legislation.

The statement also says that REACH would benefit from harmonisation with existing international regulatory efforts such as accepting test data developed under OECD guidelines and other international fora. WWF would like to point out that this is already the case.

WWF believes that REACH needs to be strengthened at Second Reading if it is to properly protect human health and the environment.

For more information, please contact:

Noemi Cano, WWF DetoX Campaign Ncano@wwfepo.org Tel: +32 2 7438806