REACH proposals pass into law, come into force from June 2007

Strasbourg - In a simple vote today, members of the European Parliament took the REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of CHemicals) proposals into law. The main legislation was was approved by a large majority with 529 in favour, 98 against and 24 abstentions.

A series of amendments by the Green Party and others were rejected by similar margins.

The regulation will enter into force progressively from June 2007, and the registration process will take 11 years to be completed. The calendar for registration depends on the risk of the substance and the quantity produced. All covered substances will have to be registered by 2018. REACH also creates a new Chemicals Agency, to be based in Helsinki, which will be responsible for the authorisation process.

CEFIC, the European Chemicals industry federation said it is committed to making the legislation work. Alain Perroy, Cefic Director General stated: ”The challenge during the legislative period has been to ensure the workability of the legislation, so that it can deliver real improvements. In this respect we regret the unnecessary requirements added to the authorisation element of REACH. The European chemical industry will see REACH as an opportunity to demonstrate that companies have a solid knowledge of chemicals and strong product management practices to ensure chemical safety. The industry wants to make REACH work; Cefic will play an active role in helping companies to comply with the regulation".

Greenpeace, the environmental activist group, said the legislation has major loopholes, citing the threshhold of 1 tonne/year for registration and the provision that allows companies to use toxic chemicals subject to the ill-defined restriction of 'adequate control'.

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Press releasefrom European Parliament