10 Oct
2006 - Brussels, 10 October 2006 – Environmental,
women’s, health and consumer organisations see
today’s Environment Committee vote on the new
EU chemicals law (REACH) as a vital step towards
protecting health and the environment from chemical
contamination. The Committee strongly supported
the substitution of hazardous chemicals whenever
safer alternatives are available.
The vote reflects cross-party
support for the substitution principle and re-confirms
a decision made by the entire assembly last November,
which has so far been ignored by the Council of
Ministers. It sends a strong message back to the
Council that MEPs remain determined that chemicals
of very high concern should be replaced with safer
alternatives whenever possible. This legal obligation
is essential to drive innovation of safer chemicals,
in order to end the build-up of harmful substances
in our bodies and the environment - one of the
key objectives of REACH.
The groups also welcome the
Environment Committee’s decision to ensure that
a legally binding “duty of care” applies to all
chemicals, making chemical producers responsible
for the safety of their products, as well as the
Committee’s backing for more information for consumers
about chemicals in everyday products.
They call on Ministers
and the European Commission to endorse the European
Parliament’s position in discussions over the
coming weeks. Intense pressure from the chemical
industry to date has resulted in severe loopholes
in the law, say the groups. Now, substitution
of all the most hazardous chemicals is the only
chance for decision-makers to enable REACH to
improve the protection of human health and the
environment beyond current legislation.
