Health & Safety News Brief
Occupational Health & Safety Information Service
Common position of the Council strikes the right balance for authorisation under REACH
Cefic, the European Chemical Industry Council, welcomes the common position on REACH adopted by the Council on 27 June 2006. The agreement is a well-balanced compromise in combining the need to protect human health and environment, and concerns about workability and competitiveness of the European industry.
In particular, Cefic supports the Council’s position on authorisation compared to the one voted in the European Parliament’s 1st reading, as it is the most effective in minimising the effects of chemicals of concern on people and the environment, and encouraging the innovation of suitable newer and safer chemicals.
The Council’s approach is still a tough regime but takes into account the practical realities of how chemicals are manufactured and used in supply chains. Having a time-limited
authorisation, as proposed by the EP 1st reading, would stifle innovation in new chemicals (and their uses downstream) and deter the development of newer and safer chemicals, going against one of the main objectives of the REACH regulation.
The Council’s common position achieves this through a procedure where an authorisation:
- Shall be granted if risk is adequately controlled
- May be granted due to socio-economic benefits
- Is not limited to 5 years, but undergoes periodical review on case by case basis
- Application must be accompanied by an analysis of alternatives considering their risks and the technical and socio-economic feasibility of substitution.
The chemical industry will continue to contribute to the process of implementation with concrete proposals to achieve workable legislation for the protection of health and the environment while maintaining the competitiveness of the industry. www.cefic.be