Reach: Europe industry grps urge full powers for agency

28 November 2003 19:37  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (CNI)--Employers, trade representatives and unions have demanded full autonomy for the central agency being proposed to manage and enforce the new European chemicals regulation system.

 

In a joint statement received Friday, the employers group European Chemical Employers Group (ECEG), trade body European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic), and the European Mine, Chemical and Energy Workers’ Federation (EMCEF) said the proposed new chemicals agency “should have a central and leading role to implement efficiently the legislation”.

 

The three bodies also called for the European Chemicals Agency (ECA) to have the power to hear and examine appeals on all decisions made under the registration, evaluation and authorisation of chemicals (Reach) system.

 

They also urged that legal and operational frameworks used to govern occupational health in chemicals production be kept, and that the rules should be extended to downstream users of products.

 

Speaking at a joint conference in Madrid, Spain, yesterday, the groups also stressed the importance of ensuring that confidential business information is properly protected, and warned that Reach could hurt innovation in the chemical sector.

 

The European Commission (EC) approved the final draft of the Reach proposals in late October, and the text has been passed up to the European Parliament and European Union's (EU) Council of Ministers.

By: Will Beacham
+44 208 652 3214

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