09 Jun
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trading partners” is out of date and fails to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.
