Statement

EU Parliament Committee Ignores Critical Chance to Make REACH Workable

Arlington, VA (Oct. 10, 2006) – The European Parliament’s Environment Committee today approved several amendments to the European Council of Ministers December, 2005 adoption of a “Common Position” on the Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals (REACH) proposal.  American Chemistry Council (ACC) President and CEO Jack N. Gerard issued the following statement:

“Today’s vote by a committee of the European Parliament is an unfortunate setback for the goal of achieving a fair, workable and proportionate result in the REACH debate.  Many of the amendments adopted by the committee will adversely impact the US and other EU trading partners, specifically in areas such as time limited authorizations, mandatory substitution, disproportionate requirements on non-EU importers of polymers, limited rights for confidential business information, and introduction of a separate discriminatory legal ‘duty of care.’

“ACC member companies embrace the goal of improved health, safety and environmental protection.  Our representatives have worked cooperatively with relevant EU institutions and stakeholders in order to achieve a REACH outcome which is effective, proportionate and enforceable.  Unfortunately the direction taken today will adversely impact the business community by taking unreasonably restrictive approaches which do not provide a proportionate improvement in health or environmental protection.

 “We remain hopeful that in the weeks to come the full Parliament will understand that positions already adopted by the Council of Ministers (with the support of the European Commission) will result in a more rationale outcome, and a more workable REACH.”

Learn more about REACH.