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9 November 2009
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Chemicals review - fight over impact assessment results continues 

Published: Monday 16 August 2004    | Updated: Friday 4 May 2007   

The Commission announced on 16 October the results of a new study on the impact of its upcoming REACH proposals for the chemical sector, showing that the overall impact in terms of GDP will be negligible.

Background:


The Commission will officialy present the final legislative proposals for its future chemicals policy on 29 October. As some figures on a new impact assessment accompanying these proposals had been leaked to the press, the Commission organised a technical briefing on 16 October to set things right.

 

Other related news:


According to the Commission's new figures, the overall costs of its new legislation will be substantially lower than its own earlier estimates. The revision of the draft proposal which was posted for the Internet stakeholder consultation has led to a reduction of over 10 billion euro in costs. The overall costs to the chemicals industry and its downstream users would be between 2.8 and 5.2 billion euro over a period of 11 years.

On the other hand, the anticipated benefits to environment and human health are expected to be much bigger than the costs of the new legislation. DG Environment Director Jos Delbeke pointed to an indicative scenario that estimates health benefits to be in the order of 50 billion euro over a 30 year period.

 

Positions:


The chemicals industry and the NGOs were briefed on the new impact assessment by the Commission's services. CEFIC, the European Chemical Industry Council, pointed to the big differences between the Commission's new figures and earlier studies undertaken for industry in France (Mercer) and Germany (Arthur D. Little). CEFIC criticised that the new assessment by the Commission "focuses mainly on the issue of costs. In Cefic’s view it should also examine the broader induced effects on the EU economy, such as employment, investment, time to market, loss of know-how, etc.". CEFIC therefore reiterates its demand for an independent and extended impact assessment of the new proposals.

The environmental NGOs welcomed the Commission's new figures and stated that they "expose the industry's scaremongering". In a joint press release, Greenpeace and the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) regretted that the REACH proposals had been weakened over the summer and urged the Commission to "revive the policy’s initial aims and stop giving in to industry and US pressure".

 

Next steps:

  • The Commission will present its draft legislative proposals on 29 October. The Parliament and the Council will then have the final say.

 

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  1. 10 November 2009
    Economic and Financial Affairs Council
  2. 11 - 12 November 2009
    European Parliament mini plenary session
  3. 16 - 17 November 2009
    General Affairs and External Relations Council including defence and development ministers
  4. 18 - 20 November 2009
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