The European Union parliament has passed an amended version of the registration, evaluation and authorisation of chemicals (reach) bill. The controversial bill has the industry against the labour unions and environmental groups. If enacted, reach will force businesses to disclose the amount and kind of chemicals it uses, encourage a shift to safer chemicals and push the chemical sector towards research and the development of safer surrogates for harmful chemicals.
The amendments in the draft law have been criticised by environmental groups for having gaps regarding safety issues and for limiting the amount of data required for chemical usage by companies under 10 tonnes. Though all of the 30,000 chemicals will still need to be registered, up to two-thirds of them will now be exempted from mandatory tests. Aleksandra Kordecka of the environmental group, Friends of the Earth, says, "We will have full safety data for 85 per cent of substances that were originally supposed to be covered by reach." Now it is up to the European governments to reach a political agreement at a mid-December meet.
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
.png)
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.