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Most significant legislative project in EU history concluded
European Parliament approved EU chemicals regulation on 13 December 2006
"This is a historic day. After three years of intense negotiations, we have reached an agreement on the EU chemicals regulation REACH, which will considerably improve the protection of people's health and the environment. The chemicals regulation will reform the entire EU chemicals legislation and will turn Europe into a global forerunner and trailblazer. There is also reason to believe that the safest products in the world will mean better competitiveness for European industry in the future, says Mauri Pekkarinen, Finland's Minister of Trade and Industry.
The regulation applies to some 30,000 chemicals used in Europe. It will oblige 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 or imported to 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 industry will have to provide users with instructions for the safe use of chemicals.
This decision has been under preparation during the Finnish Presidency in several tripartite negotiations between representatives of the Presidency, the European Parliament and the European Commission on the basis of the Council's Common Position. Today, the European Parliament approved changes to the Common Position agreed on in informal negotiations, and Minister Pekkarinen, representing the EU Council of Ministers, gave his support to them in the plenary session.
The authorisation procedure and substitution of the most hazardous chemicals was one of the most difficult issues during the negotiations. In accordance with the proposal by the EU Presidency, the applicant or the holder of the authorisation shall deliver a substitution plan when the analysis of the alternatives indicates that suitable alternatives do exist. "In my opinion, this solution takes into account in a balanced and realistic way the concerns on the substitution of the most hazardous substances raised during the negotiations," Minister Pekkarinen emphasises.
In order to become effective, the chemicals regulation requires the approval of the Council of Ministers representing the governments and of the European Parliament. The regulation will enter into force on 1 June 2007. The European Chemicals Agency will also start operations in Helsinki as laid down by the regulation. The Chemicals Agency will be responsible for organising most of the practical implementation of the regulation.
Further information
Anna-Liisa Sundquist, Counsellor, Finland's Permanent Representation to the European Union, tel. +32 473 540 522
Kirsti Vilén, Counsellor, Finland's Permanent Representation to the European Union, tel. +32 478 887 467
Juha Pyötsiä, Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, tel. 1607 3922
Riina Nevamäki, Special Adviser to the Minister, MTI, tel. 040 705 25 93
In respect of the European Chemicals Agency
Jukka Malm, Expert Services Director, Finnish Environment Institute, tel. 040 740 26 39
The attachments to the press release, which containfurther details on the REACH regulation and the European Chemicals Agency, are available from www.ktm.fi/english.
"This is a historic day. After three years of intense negotiations, we have reached an agreement on the EU chemicals regulation REACH, which will considerably improve the protection of people's health and the environment. The chemicals regulation will reform the entire EU chemicals legislation and will turn Europe into a global forerunner and trailblazer. There is also reason to believe that the safest products in the world will mean better competitiveness for European industry in the future, says Mauri Pekkarinen, Finland's Minister of Trade and Industry.
The regulation applies to some 30,000 chemicals used in Europe. It will oblige 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 or imported to 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 industry will have to provide users with instructions for the safe use of chemicals.
This decision has been under preparation during the Finnish Presidency in several tripartite negotiations between representatives of the Presidency, the European Parliament and the European Commission on the basis of the Council's Common Position. Today, the European Parliament approved changes to the Common Position agreed on in informal negotiations, and Minister Pekkarinen, representing the EU Council of Ministers, gave his support to them in the plenary session.
The authorisation procedure and substitution of the most hazardous chemicals was one of the most difficult issues during the negotiations. In accordance with the proposal by the EU Presidency, the applicant or the holder of the authorisation shall deliver a substitution plan when the analysis of the alternatives indicates that suitable alternatives do exist. "In my opinion, this solution takes into account in a balanced and realistic way the concerns on the substitution of the most hazardous substances raised during the negotiations," Minister Pekkarinen emphasises.
In order to become effective, the chemicals regulation requires the approval of the Council of Ministers representing the governments and of the European Parliament. The regulation will enter into force on 1 June 2007. The European Chemicals Agency will also start operations in Helsinki as laid down by the regulation. The Chemicals Agency will be responsible for organising most of the practical implementation of the regulation.
Further information
Anna-Liisa Sundquist, Counsellor, Finland's Permanent Representation to the European Union, tel. +32 473 540 522
Kirsti Vilén, Counsellor, Finland's Permanent Representation to the European Union, tel. +32 478 887 467
Juha Pyötsiä, Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, tel. 1607 3922
Riina Nevamäki, Special Adviser to the Minister, MTI, tel. 040 705 25 93
In respect of the European Chemicals Agency
Jukka Malm, Expert Services Director, Finnish Environment Institute, tel. 040 740 26 39
The attachments to the press release, which containfurther details on the REACH regulation and the European Chemicals Agency, are available from www.ktm.fi/english.
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