Supporters and opponents have been making their case to MEPs in the run-up to the first reading of proposals by the European Parliament to reform EU chemicals legislation under the REACH programme. The programme is designed to improve the protection of public health and the environment but many of the companies concerned claim in its current form it will reduce the competitiveness of the industry in Europe.

Under REACH companies that manufacture or import more than a tonne of a chemical substance a year will have to register it in a central database and research the risks it carries and try to reduce them. This is expected to hit between 40% and 60% of small and medium companies with fewer funds to foot registration and research costs.

The UK has put forward an alternative known as the OSOR system that would allow companies to form a consortium in order to share the registration cost. France, however, views the idea with skepticism claiming it will hinder research and decelerate innovation.

The European Parliament will vote on the REACH proposals in early autumn. The Commission has refused to modify some of the proposals until they have been submitted to the Parliament and the Council, something many view as time waste. Due to the strong opposition of the industry the proposals are expected to be debated on several occasions before coming into force.

 

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