EU chemicals policy adopted after a long tug of war
The EU parliament on Wednesday adopted a controversial chemicals
directive REACH and thus paved the way for a better control of
hazardous substances.
Must be after the directive in June 2007, the first comprehensive
industry information on some 30,000 chemicals present, about its
impact on health is so far little is known. Manufacturers are also
encouraged to replace highly dangerous substances by alternative
substances.
Critique of consumer advocates
A requirement of immediate substitution of particularly hazardous
substances in the interest of the industry was omitted, which consumer
advocates and environmental groups have criticized sharply. This issue
was at the center of a months-long dispute between the parliament and
EU governments on the policy.
