EU parliament vote on REACH

European Parliament REACH vote: Huge knowledge gaps on chemicals will remain

18.11.2005 |Daniela Rosche

As a first step on the way to a new chemicals reform in Europe, the
Parliament voted on the draft REACH proposal in Strasbourg yesterday.
All 732 MEPs were asked to decide whether REACH will be strengthened or
further weakened.

The outcome is a very mixed one. While MEPs voted to introduce the
substitution of hazardous chemicals under REACH, they drastically
weakened the requirements for companies to deliver data on 25.000 out of
the 30.000 chemicals covered by REACH.

"It is a shame to see how MEPs decided to sacrifice protection of women
and future generations in order to release industry of its burden to
prove that chemicals are safe, says Daniela Rosche, WECF chemicals
expert. "For women, this means that we will continue to live without
knowing whether chemicals are toxic to reproduction or can change our
DNA. The "chemical status quo" has not been changed and we are very
disappointed about this" says Rosche.

Download the joint pressrelease.