European Parliament votes for Reach

Keith Nuthall of PRW reported that the European Parliament had formally accepted the compromise deal on the European Union’s (EU) planned chemical control system REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals), with a plenary session accepting its terms today.

This clears the way for the EU Council of Ministers to formally approve the system, with a vote expected before Christmas, bringing to an end years of detailed and often rancorous debates.

REACH should now be progressively introduced form June 1 next year (2007). European Parliament president Josep Borrell said: "This vote, on one of the most complex texts in the history of the EU, sets up an essential piece of legislation to protect public health and the environment from the risks of chemical substances, without threatening European competitiveness."

There were many elements discussed during final negotiations, but on the key dangerous substances and substitution issue, the parliament confirmed producers would be obliged to submit substitution plans to develop safer alternatives, including research and development proposals where such safe materials do not exist.

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