Sweeping new rules to regulate dangerous chemicals in the European Union will win broad backing in the European Parliament after a deal with member states, lawmakers said on Friday, amid accusations of a sell-out to big business. Negotiators from the parliament's three main factions and EU governments struck a deal late on Thursday on a draft law known as REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals), that is due to enter into force next year.

The bill is designed to make companies prove that substances in every-day products like cars, clothes or paint are safe. The rules have been the focus of intense lobbying, pitting the left and environmentalists against chemicals giants such as BASF and Bayer. The United States also accused the EU of regulatory overkill.

"I am confident this proposal has the support of the three major groups," Guido Sacconi, the Italian socialist steering the legislation through parliament, told a news conference. The assembly votes on the deal on Dec. 13 and member states will then formally give their green light.

"The most fundamental thing of all is that it reverses the burden of proof. Manufacturers and importers have to demonstrate that products they put on the market are safe," said Chris Davies from the liberal group. But he acknowledged one key objection of animal welfare campaigners. "It's going to see a very significant increase in animal testing. Millions and millions of laboratory animals will suffer, but we have taken measures to avoid duplication." The European Commission, which authored the draft rules, said on Friday it welcomed the deal.

LOOPHOLES?
European environmental, health and consumer groups, including Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace, said in a joint statement that loopholes in the deal would allow many chemicals, including those causing cancer and birth defects, to stay on the market even when safer alternatives were available. Leftist and Green lawmakers slammed the deal. The Greens branded it a sell-out to the German chemical industry.

British Green lawmaker Caroline Lucas called it "a sad day for environmental policy in the European Union", saying it would continue to allow hazardous chemicals in everyday products even when safer alternatives exist. The European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic) was not immediately available for comment.

Under REACH, the properties of roughly 30,000 chemicals produced in or imported to the European Union would have to be registered with a central agency. Those of highest concern, such as carcinogens, would require testing and authorisation. Davies said the deal would require persistent, bio-accumulative and toxic chemicals be removed from the market if suitable alternatives existed.

Manufacturers would also have to submit a "substitution plan" when seeking authorisation for the roughly 1,500 chemicals expected to be considered of high concern. But if they can be adequately controlled, the substances will be approved.
By Jeff Mason and Huw Jones
(Planet Ark, 04/12/2006)
http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/39287/story.htm