Est. 1min 07-04-2003 (updated: 07-11-2012 ) Euractiv is part of the Trust Project >>> Languages: Français | DeutschPrint Email Facebook X LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram The Commission is in the process of finalising its legislative proposal for the EU’s new chemicals policy. It foresees a last consultation round via the Internet on the workability of the proposals in May, and adoption of the proposed Regulation before the summer break. Addressing a European conference on 31 March, Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström gave more details on the upcoming final proposals from the Commission. She indicated that specific uses of high-concern substances, such as PBTs (persistent, bio-accumulative and toxic pollutants) and vPvBs (very persistent and very bio-accumulative substances) will have to be authorised. The use of endocrine disrupters and substances of an equivalent level of concern will be included under authorisation on a case-by-case basis. Intermediate chemicals, which are used to produce other chemicals will also have to be registered, but in order not to overburden the system, certain categories of those intermediates will be exempted. Substances that are manufactured for process-oriented Research and Development will be exempted for five years (with a possible renewal for another five years). Read more with Euractiv A Call to Arms: Commission unveils plans for defence equipment policyThe EU Commission has unveiled steps to harmonize and regroup European defence equipment, to enhance European Security and Defence Policy Subscribe now to our newsletter EU Elections Decoded Email Address * Politics Newsletters PositionsThe chemicals industry has fought a heavy battle to slim down the Commission's final proposals. Although the industry agrees on the objectives of the EU's chemicals overhaul, it fears that the proposed new Regulation will put a heavy burden on its industry and will undermine its competitiveness against its major global competitors, who do not face the same strict rules. According to theGerman manufacturers' organisation BDI, the Commission's plans would cause the loss of more than 2 million jobs in Europe. A recent conference of experts organised by theGerman Umweltbundesamt (Federal Environment Agency)contested the study undertaken for BDI by business consultancy Arthur D. Little (ADL). According to these experts, the ADL study ignored the positive impact of the new chemicals policy and was based on inconclusive industry data. In her speech at the "Beyond Reach" conference,Commissioner Wallströmstated that the proposed legislation will cost the industry between 1.4 and 7 billion euro over the next decade, equivalent to less than 0.1 per cent per year of the annual turnover of the chemicals industry. The health benefits from the new regulatory system could be estimated at between 18 and 54 billion euro over a 30-year period, according to the Commissioner. BackgroundWith the publication of its "White Paper on EU chemicals policy" on 13 February 2001, the European Commission started a major review of its legislation on chemicals. The review aimed at streamlining and simplifying the major EU legislative instruments in place. The White Paper proposed the introduction of a single evaluation and registration system for existing and new substances called REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals). REACH seeks to close information gaps in both existing and new chemicals data and to extend data requirements to downstream users of chemicals. It shifts the burden of proof concerning the safety of chemicals from the public authorities to the chemicals industry. A long and difficult stakeholder consultation and internal opposing views in the Commission between DG Environment and DG Enterprise led to a serious delay in the legislative follow-up of the White Paper. Timeline Within the next weeks, the College of Commissioners will be holding an "orientation debate" with decisions on the major issues of contention between the DGs Enterprise and Environment; In May 2003, the finalised proposals will be put on the Internet for a one-month online consultation with stakeholders on the workability of the system; June-July: definitive Commission proposals Second part of 2003: first reading in the European Parliament and the Council.
