European formula for chemical chaos

pdf version (what's that?)

Business interests have again triumphed over concerns for human health. Over-optimistic plans by Commissioners of the European Union to ensure safety tests on manufactured chemicals have been greatly scaled back following massive lobbying by the chemicals industry and the American government and with the backing of our own Prime Minister.

Over 130,000 chemicals in day-to-day use have not been tested to internationally agreed standards for effects on human health or the environment, it is estimated. Many of these substances are suspected of causing cancer, birth defects, allergies and lower sperm counts while others are suspected of environmental damage.

In 2001 the European Union drafted a time-limited programme to address this. It was called REACH, Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals, and the aim was to force industry to test all substances over about a decade. The European Commission estimates the benefits to society and the environment to be in the range of £50 billion.

Many environmental groups launched a massive campaign in support of the proposals. In the other corner the chemicals industry, particularly in Europe and the USA, lobbied for the proposals to be dropped, claiming costs of up to £9 billion, and damage to competitiveness and employment.

Some organisations, including the London Hazards Centre, saw the proposals as so optimistic in their scope, and the time scale so short, as to be a recipe for a mess. Given the number of substances to be tested, and the limited time scale, it was obvious that the target would require the commitment incredible sums of money and technicians, which was very unlikely, or the weakening of testing standards, which was much more likely and very worrying.

The past few months have seen the American chemical industry lobbying their President to put pressure on key European players and organisations. The European chemicals industry was hard at work as well, with the UK Prime Minister, German Chancellor and French President signing and sending a letter to the European Commission criticising REACH.

So a well intentioned, if ill thought out, proposal to ensure the testing of all chemicals on the market, is now a proposal to register just 30,000 and ensure the testing of just 6,000. The requirement for the registration of information for 20,000 of the 30,000 would be rudimentary and just 1,500 substances of 'very high concern' would need licensing.

The proposals still need the approval of EU member states via the European Parliament. It is likely that industrial lobbyists will want to see the proposals watered down further still before any vote is taken.

top of page

Resources page