Final Agreement on the EU chemicals regulation
13 Dec 2006, 16:57
“This is a historical day. After three years of intense negotiations, we have reached an agreement on the EU chemicals regulation REACH”, says Mr Mauri Pekkarinen, the Finnish Minister of Trade and Industry.
The regulation, approved on 13 December by the European Parliament, applies to some 30,000 chemicals used in Europe. It will oblige the industry to study and forward information on properties of substances into a common European register, if quantities of one tonne or more of the substances are manufactured in or imported into the EU area per year. These registers will effectively serve citizens and enterprises by providing information about substances and their hazards. Instructions for risk management will also be improved as the industry will have to provide users with instructions for the safe use of chemicals. The regulation will enter into force on 1 June 2007.
