REACH proposals will not deliver, says Cefic

The EC's chemicals policy is 'in need of corrections' to reduce the huge cost burden on Europe's chemical industry, according to German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, speaking at Cefic's general assembly, held in Hamburg in June. 'The cost must be reduced to ensure the competitiveness of the chemical sector,'he said. But European enterprise commissioner Erkki Liikanen claimed that the registration of substances under the proposed REACH system would take place over a period of 11 years, and that the information required has been set at a level that would minimise expensive testing.

However, Cefic president Eggert Voscherau said that the proposed REACH system is too bureaucratic and over-demanding. 'It will be unable to deliver what is expected,' he warned. 'Indeed, the scope of the legislative proposal is too wide; it should be limited to marketed substances, and exempt polymers and other substances covered by existing legislation, and other regulated areas, such as waste.'

In mid-July, Cefic published its response to the EC's internet consultation on the future chemicals policy. While it broadly supports the political objectives of the proposed legislation, it believes the system in its present form is unworkable. 'The proposals go far beyond what was initially proposed in the White Paper on the future strategy for chemicals in 2001,' said Voscherau. 'This deviation from the original objectives is unjustified and fails to recognise the reality of problems with existing legislation which need to be overcome, and the finite resources available in business and government.'

Voscherau also believes that the idea to set up a central agency with administrative duties, while having decentralised management in the member states, is misconceived: 'The central agency should be given more responsibility.' He added that the information requirements are excessive and unreasonable. Instead, they should be risk-based and substance-tailored.