EU chemicals industry faces testing time
The European Parliament on Thursday (November 15) adopted a resolution on the Commission white paper on chemicals policy, clearing the way for more detailed legislation to be drawn up. The proposed policy has attracted wide criticism from the chemicals industry in Europe, the third-largest manufacturing sector in the EU.
The key element of the proposed legislation is the reversal of responsibility from authorities to industry for testing and risk assessment of chemicals. The industry has complained that the additional cost could force many small and medium-sized enterprises out of business. In Germany full-page advertisements were taken out by the industry to oppose the proposals.
However, in its resolution on the white paper the European Parliament took into account some of the concerns of the industry, a move applauded by the main mouthpiece for the European chemicals industry - Cefic (the European Chemical Industry Council). Director Alain Perroy said: "Cefic particularly notes that some of the industry’s key concerns are shared by the European Parliament, when it comes to avoid creating a wide and unworkable scope for registration and authorisation." However, he added that some points still needed clarification and said that these could still lead to significant implementation difficulties.
