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NewsLatest news ( PDF - 426K) May 2007
Finally! After two years of discussion, last November the European Parliament cast its first vote on the proposed chemicals law, REACH. The outcome of the vote was mixed: on the one hand, a majority of Parliamentarians voted to phase out the most harmful chemicals whenever safer alternatives are available. This support of the European Parliament for the ‘substitution principle’ is an important step towards a toxics free future: it will give Europe’s chemicals industry the necessary drive to innovate and create safer products. On the other hand, regrettably, the Parliamentarians gave in to pressure from the chemicals industry and agreed that industry has to provide less safety data on their chemicals. This will leave huge gaps in the safety data necessary to identify the hazardous chemicals and their potential safer alternatives – thus undermining the positive vote on replacement of these substances. One month later, EU Ministers failed to follow the progressive lead of the European Parliament on ‘substitution’. For example, according to the decision of the Ministers, companies could continue using some chemicals, such as those known to interfere with our hormone system, even when safer alternatives exist. It is still possible to improve key aspects of the text in both the European Parliament and the EU council, represented by national ministers. There will be a second round of debates among these two EU institutions because they have not jointly agreed on the legislative text. We expect the final REACH vote to take place in October 2006. Sign up for Chemical Reaction alerts and we will call for your help to pressure the decision makers to protect our health and environment!Press Releases EU Council ignores the European Parliament on substituting dangerous chemicals Parliament votes to phase out hazardous chemicals but allows
huge knowledge gaps on safety When REACH becomes a threat REACH:
Parliament's lead committee backs REACH principles but falls short
of guaranteeing safety information Commission
sticks boot into REACH Children vs Chemical Industry REACH
impact assessment Industry
Figures Show Sick
of chemicals UNICE
To Wreck REACH Europe
needs REACH NGOs call on MEPs to put health and
environment concerns at the heart of European chemicals reform -
REACH EU
Elections Chemicals
beyond control
European election candidates asked: 'What's your position on chemicals?' Detailed
submission to the consultation Slimmed-down
REACH needs healthy supplements Countdown
to REACH Media briefing on the new EU chemicals policy REACH
impact assessment exposes industry scaremongering How
can the chemical industry lose 5.5 million jobs? NGOs
call on Commission to stop reversing on chemicals reform Commission
proposes Eco-label for toxic furniture NGOs
challenge chemical industry: Be competitive! European
citizens say protect us from hazardous chemicals Declaration: Our demands for a toxics-free future Organisations that signed the Declaration Delay and indecision as Prodi Commission fails to protect us from hazardous chemicals A step forward - but with crucial weakness, Press background briefing document Environment
Council must end delay to reform of EU Chemicals Policy A
new chemicals policy in Europe, new opportunities for industry
Letter
to Romano Prodi on the new EU chemicals policy |
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