Reach: EU Competitiveness Council keeps a watchful eye

11 November 2003 18:04  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (CNI)--The European Union’s (EU’s) newly-formed Competitiveness Council has established an ad hoc group to look in further detail at the wider aspects of the European Commission’s (EC’s) proposed Reach (registration, evaluation and authorisation of chemicals) scheme and the revamp of the EU’s policy on chemicals.

The leaders of Britain, France and Germany urged the EU to fully involve the Competitiveness Council in a joint letter to EC president Romano Prodi in September. The letter stressed that "unnecessary burdens" should not be placed on industry.

At its meeting on Monday (10 November) the Competitiveness Council of Ministers looked at the Reach proposals, how the power of the proposed new European Chemicals Agency night be enhanced and the knock-on effect of Reach on downstream users of chemicals, human health and the environment, the EU said. The Council also considered the workability and cost aspects of Reach, it added, without giving further details.

Reach will be analysed further at its 27 November meeting, the Council said.

An open conference for chemicals stakeholders on Reach impact assessments is being held in Brussels on 21 November 2003 by the EC.

By: Nigel Davis
+44 20 8652 3214

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