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Poslanecký klub Evropské lidové strany: Nové nařízení EK o chemické politice musí být v praxi proveditelnější a realističtější
16. března 2004 | Poslanecký klub Evropské lidové strany, tel: 0032 479 972 144
In a hearing organized by EPP-ED-rapporteur Werner Langen (CDU/D) for the European Parliament’s Economic Affairs Committee, experts from the industry, associations and scientists demanded a better practicability of the Commission’s REACH-system for the registration and evaluation of chemical substances.
According to the German MEP the proposal to orientate the REACH - system not only on production quantities of more than one tonne per year – as proposed by the Commission - but also on risk-based assessments could be a good solution to make the system more practical and workable for the industry.
So far, it is clear for the rapporteur that the basic approach of the REACH-Systems in its current form is impracticable, too bureaucratic, too slow, too expensive, too scientific and thus not feasible. "It does not make any sense at all to collect huge amounts of data just for the sake of itself instead of focusing on those substances that are really dangerous for the environment and represent a potential risk for consumers. Therefore a risk-based assessment including exposition categories in combination with production-quantities is a more effective approach", Langen said today after the hearing. He pointed out that this position is not only shared by experts from the industry, but also acknowledged by many representatives of the environmental protection organisations.
At present, the chemical industry in the European Union employs directly and indirectly almost 4 million people and has an annual turnover of 500 billion € including the pharmaceutical industry. 94 per cent of the firms concerned are small and medium-sized enterprises with up to 200 employees. More than one third of the substances used could be skipped after the evaluation of up to 30.000 chemicals, as intended by the Commission, in the next 11 years. Furthermore, if the system foreseen is not changed, nearly one third of turnover could be lost to imports and producers outside the European Union. "The Commission and the left wing of Parliament must therefore realize their enormous responsibility for the European economy as a whole. Consequently, the REACH-System should be modified to ensure that the chemicals in use are not replaced by imports and to ensure the competitiveness of the European companies for the future", Langen concluded.
According to the German MEP the proposal to orientate the REACH - system not only on production quantities of more than one tonne per year – as proposed by the Commission - but also on risk-based assessments could be a good solution to make the system more practical and workable for the industry.
So far, it is clear for the rapporteur that the basic approach of the REACH-Systems in its current form is impracticable, too bureaucratic, too slow, too expensive, too scientific and thus not feasible. "It does not make any sense at all to collect huge amounts of data just for the sake of itself instead of focusing on those substances that are really dangerous for the environment and represent a potential risk for consumers. Therefore a risk-based assessment including exposition categories in combination with production-quantities is a more effective approach", Langen said today after the hearing. He pointed out that this position is not only shared by experts from the industry, but also acknowledged by many representatives of the environmental protection organisations.
At present, the chemical industry in the European Union employs directly and indirectly almost 4 million people and has an annual turnover of 500 billion € including the pharmaceutical industry. 94 per cent of the firms concerned are small and medium-sized enterprises with up to 200 employees. More than one third of the substances used could be skipped after the evaluation of up to 30.000 chemicals, as intended by the Commission, in the next 11 years. Furthermore, if the system foreseen is not changed, nearly one third of turnover could be lost to imports and producers outside the European Union. "The Commission and the left wing of Parliament must therefore realize their enormous responsibility for the European economy as a whole. Consequently, the REACH-System should be modified to ensure that the chemicals in use are not replaced by imports and to ensure the competitiveness of the European companies for the future", Langen concluded.
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