EU chemicals body secures protection for REACH data

Brussels – Cefic has welcomed a recent European Court of Justice ruling on transparency and protection of confidential business information under REACH as showing a balanced approach to transparency of regulatory data.

In the case, ClientEarth – a group of ‘green’ activist lawyers - challenged the confidentiality of information supplied by chemical companies to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) as part of the REACH process.

To register products under REACH, chemical companies are required to submit detailed data packages, often containing commercially sensitive information, to the regulatory body ECHA.

The Court rejected ClientEarth arguments that confidential business information submitted by chemicals companies, including specific production volumes, should be made public.

European chemical industry body Cefic participated in this court case in support of the ECHA.

“By confirming the REACH rules on confidentiality, the Court reaffirms the need for a fair and predictable approach towards public access to regulatory data, in a manner that can also take into consideration innovation and industry’s competitiveness,” said Hubert Mandery, director general of Cefic.