EU Hopes To Reach Deal
on Landmark Chemicals Bill Next Month
November 25, 2005 — By Associated Press
BRUSSELS, Belgium — The European
Union hopes to reach agreement soon on a controversial bill designed to
protect people from effects of chemicals used in products of everyday
use, Britain said Thursday.
The European Parliament last week approved the landmark legislation on
the issue but voted to water down its tough provisions amid fears they
might lead to job losses.
The bill puts the burden of proof on businesses to show that around
30,000 commonly used industrial chemicals and substances they put on the
market are safe. It requires chemical companies to register the
properties of substances in a new central EU database. There are
currently around 40 directives governing the sector. The new law would
supersede them.
Because of fears over potential job losses, the Parliament substantially
scaled back chemicals-testing requirements. Full safety tests would only
be required on a fraction of the 30,000 substances originally targeted
by the bill. A requirement for costly tests on the long-term toxicity of
chemicals on the environment and their impact on DNA was dropped.
Offsetting the eased registration requirements, provisions were added
that tighten controls and require authorization to use some of the most
hazardous substances. Authorization for such substances will be limited
to five years, according to the Parliament's proposals.
Britain, which holds the EU presidency, said that the Parliament's
proposals were fairly close to member states' ideas about the law. A
British official said the authorization issue is a sticking point which
will be resolved at a meeting of EU ministers Dec. 19.
Source: Associated Press
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