Archived press release

Chemicals industry wrecking EU chemicals legislation

10 November 2005

Report reveals misleading and unsubstantiated statements by chemical industry

The European chemical industry has been progressively weakening the European Chemicals Reform (REACH), contrary to its publicly voiced support for the legislative proposal according to a report released today (Thursday 10^th November) by Friends of the Earth Europe.

The study entitled "Profits before health and environment: how the chemical industry is undermining European chemical legislation" reveals that CEFIC - the European Chemical Industry Council - and its members are more than happy to sacrifice the protection of human health and the environment for the sake of financial benefits, despite claiming that they are committed to transparency, sustainability and consumer care.

Based on a survey of 31 CEFIC corporate members on their attitudes towards REACH-related issues - such as substitution and phasing out of chemicals of very high concern or consumers' right to know about chemicals in products they purchase - the report concludes that the public statements made by industry are misleading, to say the least.

Despite commitments to transparency, hardly any company answered questions on consumers' right to information or which risky chemicals they produce or use. Many CEFIC members said they were unwilling to phase out chemicals "of very high concern", or substitute them with safer alternatives. This stands in direct contradiction to claims about sustainability and product stewardship. The companies are equally reluctant to provide basic safety information on substances they produce.

The Chemical industry has also grossly exaggerated its inability to pay for REACH, and disregard the legislation's potential health and environmental benefits, according to the study. The cost of regulation, which amounts to a mere 0.05% of the sector's annual sales, stands in stark contrast to the sector's self-congratulatory statements about high profits. Most companies presented excellent figures for 2004 with BP reporting record financial results, Bayer exceeding its targets for sales and earnings, DuPont reporting its fastest annual growth in recent years and BASF earning a premium.

The report, released a week before the crucial vote on REACH by the European Parliament, discloses that Members of the European Parliament have been subject to intense lobbying from CEFIC and its members.

Friends of the Earth Europe Corporate Accountability Campaigner Paul de Clerck said:

"The industry has been pushing parliamentarians to weaken REACH almost to the point of destruction. It is alarming and saddening to see members of the European Parliament giving in to demands of big corporations and ignoring public health and the environment."

Environmental, health, and consumer NGOs are urging MEPs to strengthen REACH in the plenary vote by supporting controls on, and replacement of, the most hazardous chemicals at authorization and substitution phase, provision of basic safety information for all chemicals at registration phase and the right to know for consumers and retailers.

This is the only way REACH can fulfil its aim of protecting human health and the environment while maintaining the competitiveness of European industry, the environmental campaign group said.

Notes

See www.foeeurope.org for copies of the full report.

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust