01.06.2007 - New chemicals law to protect health and environment

2007 will see a comprehensive reform of the manufacturing, marketing, import and use of toxic chemicals in industry as new legislation comes into effect.

Wide-ranging legislation to control the use of toxic chemicals in industry is set to enter into force on 1 June 2007.

On 13 December the European Parliament clinched a deal with EU governments on the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals (REACH) - legislation that was first presented by the Commission in 2003.

The new regulatory framework will improve the protection of human health and the environment by identifying the properties of chemical substances earlier and more accurately. Particular attention is given to the most toxic properties which cause cancer, infertility in men and women, genetic mutations and birth defects. The new approach is likely to improve the innovative capability and competitiveness of the EU chemicals industry.

The final REACH legislation is raising concerns among environmentalists, who claim that it leaves substantial problems unresolved and rewards business interests. Firms, keen to avoid more red tape, also argue that the new procedures will be very bureaucratic and expensive.

A new European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) will be established in Helsinki, Finland, in 2007 to manage the new central databases.

Source: Information Centre of EC Representation in Bulgaria

e-Reference Tools for VET Trainers in Food Industry (e-FOST) – BG/05/B/F/PP-166054