EESC opens its doors to industry on REACh system
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) on Wednesday (October 20) received representatives from industry sectors that are highly concerned by the new chemicals regulations proposed by the European Commission - known as the REACh system. The public hearing gathered some 200 representatives from several industries – including the leather industry - that are large chemical users.
The various industries (leather, textiles, metals, minerals, paper, rubber, semi-conductor and automobile industries) joined forces to call for the REACh system to be revised, and a legislative proposal that will not pose a disproportionate burden for companies in
The leather sector was represented by COTANCE Secretary General, Mr Gonzalez-Quijano who spoke of the problems in the leather value chain - a sector that uses about 2,000 individual substances and some 6,000 preparations and which faces fierce competition from abroad.
These points were echoed by other sector representatives, “prioritisation by risk” was mentioned and the fact that “substances in articles” should be better controlled. The general feeling at the end of the hearing was that everybody should be playing on an even paying ground in the marketplace, otherwise
(For a detailed analysis of the cost implications of REACh to the leather industry, see World Leather Aug/Sept. 2005)
