Statement

ACC Believes NGO Reports On REACH Impacts Create Unnecessary Confusion and Public Concern

ARLINGTON, VA (September 30, 2008) – Barely 3 months after Europe’s comprehensive new chemical law (REACH) has gone into effect, already non-governmental public interest groups have created wish-lists and reports which distract attention from efforts to effectively implement the law, and that could undermine the law’s effectiveness.  The American Chemistry Council (ACC) believes the public should be aware that:

The list published by ChemSec is simply one interest group’s recommendation on what chemicals should be subject to use-specific authorization under REACH.  The list is not a formal element of the European Union’s REACH program, and could create serious confusion for chemical manufacturers, distributors and their customers throughout the value chain.  Under REACH, it is the European Chemicals Agency’s (ECHA) responsibility to propose chemicals for authorization and, to date, ECHA has proposed an initial list of 16 substances using the procedures set out under the law.

The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) has issued a new report on impacts from REACH in the U.S., based on the ChemSec “wish list.”  In ACC’s view, the EDF report compounds the potential for confusion in chemical value chains.  Further, it implies that there are unregulated exposures to the listed chemicals, and creates the potential for unwarranted public concern.  Many of the substances on the list are subject to a number of other regulatory requirements beyond the Toxic Substances Control Act, including the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, among others. 

ACC strongly supports enhancing the health of humans and the environment. America’s chemistry industry continues to invest heavily in the application of improved technologies to enhance the safe production and use of essential chemical products.  Additionally, ACC supports EPA’s Chemical Assessment and Management Program (ChAMP) program which includes prioritization of chemicals for evaluations, complementing work by the EPA under the High Production Volume (HPV) Challenge program.  When completed, the U.S. ChAMP program will produce screening level risk assessments on virtually all chemicals in commerce by 2012 – assessments completed well ahead of the evaluation schedule anticipated under REACH.

Learn more about REACH.