UK, Hungary try to simplify draft EU chemicals law

The plan, known as REACH, is aimed at assessing the impact of chemicals on health and the environment. But industry representatives say it risks imposing a burden on EU firms that would put them at a disadvantage to competitors.

Under the plan as it now stands, all substances covered by the law would have to be tested at all EU firms, leading, some critics say, to duplication of cost and effort.

At a meeting of EU industry ministers on Thursday, Britain and Hungary put forward a "one substance, one registration" approach that would bring down costs but would involve a certain amount of data sharing between companies.

"REACH has the potential to ... increase the cost of business for manufacturing industry, particularly in the chemicals sector," the text of the proposal said. "...we propose that all organisations who wish to register for REACH should share data on an equitable basis."

REACH stands for Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals.


QUESTIONS RAISED

The EU executive Commission, which drafted the proposed chemicals registration system, said the British-Hungarian proposal was useful, but raised questions on issues such as intellectual property rights and information sharing on chemical production methods.

"The proposal is useful input. We all want to make REACH workable," said Commission spokesman Gregor Kreuzhuber.

"But we are not so convinced whether the proposal really works out in practice. This is the concern of the European Commission and of other member states."

Views appeared to be split on the feasibility of the proposal to simplify the testing of chemicals, diplomats said.

The legal service of the European Council said the proposal did not pose problems to property rights and marketing rights. But France, Austria and Ireland spoke openly against the plan.

At least 10 out of the 25 EU countries appeared ready to continue to discuss the idea, however, officials said.

"It was very warm support from most member states for the British-Hungarian proposal," said British Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt.

"The discussion has now shifted from should we consider 'one substance, one registration' or not to how do we make it work in detail."

Discussions focused also on the treatment of chemical substances which are produced in small quantities, that is less than 10 tonnes. The Commission favours lessening the testing requirements for these substances, which amount to 20,000.

But countries such as Sweden, Denmark and Germany would like to toughen the testing requirements, EU officials said.

Ministerial discussions on REACH are expected to drag on for at least another year, diplomats said.

Source: Reuters