Recent debates within the EU Commission were resolved this week, meaning that the REACH Directive on hazardous substances will go ahead for implementation in early 2007 after all. [SNIP]
Under REACH, the properties of roughly 30,000 chemicals produced or imported into the European Union would have to be registered with a central agency. Those of highest concern, such as carcinogens, would require testing and authorisation.
The recent debate was over the severity of action if suitable alternatives existed. The final agreement will require that persistent, bio-accumulative and toxic chemicals be removed from the market if suitable alternatives existed.
Manufacturers will also have to submit a "substitution plan" when seeking authorisation for the roughly 1,500 chemicals expected to be considered of high concern. If they can be adequately controlled, the substances will then be approved.
If a deal had not been struck before the December parliament vote, talks could have stretched far into 2007. It is now likely that the process will be completed in early 2007, probably April, from which time those affected will need to begin preparations for a set of registration processes with deadlines ranging from 2007 to 2018.
