For a toXic-free future
Today's life is almost unthinkable without chemicals. We take advantage of many benefits from chemicals. The reverse side of their widespread use is that we are exposed to them almost everywhere. Chemicals are to be found in everyday consumer products, in the food we eat, in the air we breathe. We only have a true benefit from chemicals when their use is without danger for human health and the environment.
But it is not only human health and environmental considerations that justify a complete reform. Current legislation is a patchwork of different legal instruments creating implementation and enforcement problems. Innovation is hampered, as different rules for new chemicals as compared to existing chemicals create an incentive to continue using untested chemicals rather than develop new and safer chemicals. A new system is urgently required.
On 4th October 2005, the Environment and Public Health Committee of the European Parliament voted a report on a package of new measures on Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH). The Environment Committee indeed managed to strengthen the report in several key aspects.
Through an innovative campaign (animated webpage, e-cards, postcards, poster), the Greens/EFA aimed at raising public and EP attention on what's at stake in the plenary vote.
But as a result of the plenary vote on 16th November 2005 in Strasbourg, the new chemicals legislation is built on quicksand. The Greens/EFA denounce Parliament´s position on REACH as a false promise that is unlikely to deliver the necessary level of protection of human health and the environment against hazardous chemicals unless the loopholes in the testing regime are closed.
More about REACH :
- Ten Green Points for REACH-Plus (pdf)
- "Greening REACH" (pdf)
Fact sheets