BASF says it has sought viable solutions on Reach

04 May 2006 17:44  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (ICIS news)--BASF said on Thursday it had sought viable solutions and active and constructive dialogue with all relevant political levels in the debate on Reach, the European Union’s (EU’s) proposed new chemicals policy.

It was responding to the allegations earlier on Thursday by environmental group Greenpeace that the German chemicals giant had spearheaded a chemical industry campaign aimed at destroying the EU’s attempts through Reach to protect the public from hazardous chemicals.

“One of the tasks of the political process is to shape the basic conditions for how companies operate, a BASF spokeswoman said. “Ultimately, this also determines their success,” she added.

BASF said its key message to politicians was that they ensure that these conditions promote competitiveness and innovation because the company and its customers needed to be competitive and innovative to remain successful.

BASF said it had closely followed and supported the reform of European chemicals control and actively contributed to alternative proposals for workable legislation that satisfied the objectives of improving the protection of human health and the environment while enhancing the industry's competitiveness.

“We put forward our proposals in discussions with political representatives, industry associations and stakeholders. We are now working on pilot projects with the European Commission and other companies to ensure the smooth implementation of Reach,” she added.

Greenpeace claimed in the context of its allegations that BASF headed an international campaign to mobilise the US and other non-EU governments to undermine Reach that BASF had admitted in 2005 to having 235 politicians under contract in Germany alone.

BASF told ICIS news that it knew of 150 employees who hold a political mandate at a communal level, in municipal councils, for example, including one who is a member of the parliament of Rhineland-Palatinate. 

By: Nigel Davis
+44 20 8652 3214

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