UK chem distributors back fighting fund for EU White Paper

01 July 2002 18:10  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (CNI)--Chemical distributors in the UK are backing a campaign against the European Union's (EU) new chemical policy.

The British Chemical Distributors and Traders Association (BCTDA) said Monday it is encouraged by the support received for its 'fighting fund'.

The association asked its members to make a one-off voluntary contribute equivalent to 50% of their subscription to create this 'fighting fund'. A BCTDA spokesman said the fund would be used, for example, to engage the services of technical experts who can better represent the association's views.

Speaking after a meeting of the BCDTA Council ruling body, chairman Mike Smith said: "Though we are only a week into our fighting fund campaign, we have received a very encouraging level of support from our members. They are clearly concerned about increasing levels of regulation and particularly the potential impact of the EU's white paper on the future of chemicals policy."

According to the BCTDA, a recent European Commission (EC) study showed that the white paper proposals could reduce the number of chemical products for sale on the European market by 17% and cut the annual sales of the industry in Europe by 10% - about £28.5bn ($43.4bn/Euro44.0bn). The impact on the UK, which accounts for 12% of the European industry, will be a reduction in turnover for producers, distributors and importers of £3.42bn, the BCTDA added.

Smith said: "The BCDTA has been lobbying hard on behalf of its members to achieve legislation that is simple to operate, affordable and fair. Though the fighting fund has made an excellent start, we urgently need the support of more member companies because we have only a limited amount of time to make changes before the EU proposals become law."

By: Russell Ong
+44 208 652 3214

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