13 December 2006
Parliament approves watered-down REACH-compromise
The European Parliament today gave its support to the compromise deal on
the REACH regulation, agreed with the Council on 30 November. At the Parliament’s
plenary session, a majority consisting mainly of members of the conservative,
the social-democratic and the liberal groups, secured the vote for the package
presented by the Environment Committee’s rapporteur on REACH, Italian
MEP Guido Sacconi.
“The losers in this process are not only European consumers, but also
large parts of European industry,” says Nardono Nimpuno, Chemsec policy
advisor. “All those companies using chemicals in their production
will continue to lack access to information on dangerous substance. They
will still receive products containing hazardous substances without full
information, and they will still be in the precarious situation of being
liable for their products containing these.”
Read the full press release, Explanation of the REACH result
12 December 2006
ChemSec urge MEPs to support increased information in REACH
The International Chemical Secretariat collaborates with a number of European national and multinational companies using chemicals in their production. Companies which according to REACH-speak are Downstream Users. The Compromise package brokered by the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament through MEP Guido Sacconi largely fails to take the interests of these important parts of European industry into account.
Therefore ChemSec sent a letter to all Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) today to urge to them to strengthen the Compromise by supporting Amendment 178 on Article 7.2.b, Substances in articles. This amendment clarifies that notification of Substances of Very High Concern in articles should apply to a homogenous part of an article, rather than the whole article.
Council and Parliament REACH a deal on Chemicals
At the informal High-Level Trilogue on REACH, held late Thursday evening on 30 November, representatives of the European Parliament Mr. Guido Sacconi and Mr. Karl-Heinz Florenz reached a deal with the Council of Ministers, as represented by the Finnish Chairman-in–office, Ms. Vaskunlahti. The agreement, denounced by European NGOs as “a deal too far” will be voted upon by the entire Parliament at its plenary session in December.
Read more, Pressrelease from European NGOs, Compromise package (pdf, 3 Mb)
25 October 2006
Eureau and Skanska urge Council to back Parliament position on REACH
In an Open Letter from Eureau and Skanska on REACH, EU Ministers responsible for the new EU Chemicals regulation are urged to support the position taken by the European Parliaments Environment Committee.
11 October 2006
Shortcomings of the GHS law proposal in EU
GHS (the Globally Harmonised System for the classification of chemicals) shall be implemented into EU law. The GHS- law proposal is currently open for comments on the internet until 21 October: (http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/reach/ghs_consultation_en.htm) ChemSec sees important shortcomings in the law proposal and encourages all to comment on the internet consultation.
Read more, NGO respons on the Internet consultation,
NGO respons on the Internet consultation Deutsch
10 October 2006
European Parliament’s Environment Committee sets a strong position on REACH
The European Parliament Environment Committee has today voted to retain many of its positions established in the 1st Reading. In line with the priorities laid out by the Rapporteur, Guido Sacconi, the Committee upheld strong positions on substitution, animal testing, duty of care, and information on low volume chemicals. With an majority of votes upholding the entire Report, the Committee has given a clear mandate to Sacconi for his negotiations with the Council and the Commission.
ChemSec analysis, Result ENVI vote
13 September 2006
Chemsec Seminar
Authorisation and REACH:
Substitution from a company perspective - Problems, challenges, solutions
On 12 September 2006, The International Chemical Secretariat, Chemsec, in collaboration with Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and representatives of multinational companies active in different sectors on the global market, organised a seminar on REACH, the new EU-chemicals regulation, in the European Parliament, Brussels.
The outcome of the Chemsec Seminar was clear: many European businesses stand to gain from a strong chemicals regulation, which increases information in the supply chain and provides a mechanism for the phasing out of the most hazardous substances. The message from business was unambiguous: We want the screening to be done up-stream to prevent hazardous substances and products from ever reaching our work-force and our customers.
Summary, Read more, Press release,
P. Rosander presentation, Boots presentation,
Dell presentation, Skanska presentation
18 August 2006
European Commission: Costs for green policies gross overestimated
Some gross overestimates in predictions of how much EU environmental polices will costs have been done over the last years. Rows over the cost of green policies have been a constant feature of EU environmental policy making, reaching a zenith in furious arguments over the Reach chemical policy. The European Commission has commissioned a study to investigate why the ex-ante and ex-post estimates of costs to business resulting from EU environmental legislations differ. Today the European commission must make cost estimates for all major policy proposals and the estimates influence the development of the legislations.
The study pinpoints a failure to anticipate technological innovation as the key reason why green laws are so often forecast to be more expensive than they turn out to be.
ChemSec has in an earlier report “Cry Wolf” pointed to a general tendency for business to overestimate costs. In the Commission study additional cases has been investigated. The study concludes that the ex-ante cost estimates are often twice of the later ex-post estimates.
The new report concludes that some overestimation is inevitable. It also implies that the new EU fashion for regulatory flexibility could make accurate predictions even more difficult. But it nevertheless proposes a series of ways in which accuracy could be improved.
23 June 2006
REACH: Rapporteur´s draft position without authorisation
The Parliament will formally receive the Council Common Position at its first Plenary session in September. However, discussions on REACH have already (re-) started in the Environment committee, with an informal debate on 21 June and a consideration of rapporteur Guido Sacconi´s draft recommendation on 12 July.
Sacconi Draft Recommendation For Second Reading
The final Council common position on REACH available as pocket book!
ChemSec has now printed a new pocket version of the final Council common position on REACH. Order your copy for the low cost of 20 euro (to cover printing and postage).
22 June 2006
US-led coalition wrong about REACH
Last week, diplomats from 13 non-European countries, organized by the United States, claimed that REACH would "hinder development in lower income countries" and would close the European market to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries. But they presented no new evidence to support this controversial claim.
Late last year, the European Parliament asked ChemSec to study the effects of REACH on developing country interests. This week Dr Frank Ackerman, the main author of the study, presented the results at the European Parliament - ACP assembly in Vienna.
In a detailed review of EU trade in commodities subject to REACH, we found that there will be little if any impact on developing countries, and on their SMEs in particular. The overwhelming majority of developing country exports subject to REACH are metals and minerals, produced and exported by major multinational companies. These companies can comply with REACH just as easily as European companies. Indeed, in many cases, the exporting companies are European companies. In other cases, the leading companies based in emerging economies such as South Africa are comparable in size to major European firms, and have ample resources to meet the modest requirements of REACH.
We found only rare exceptions, such as essential oils, where developing country SMEs produce exports that will be subject to REACH. In these cases, technical and financial assistance may be needed. Since there are so few cases of genuine need, the total cost of assistance to SME exporters will not be great.
Moreover, developing countries will benefit from the information about chemical hazards created by REACH. If a substance is too dangerous for European consumers, it is likely to be highly toxic for developing country workers who produce and handle it on a daily basis. Far from preventing growth, REACH will help countries around the world identify safer development strategies that allow economic growth without toxic side effects.
PowerPoint presentation from ACP assembly in Vienna
The full ChemSec study on implications of REACH for ACP countries can be found under publications
Announcement, 14 June 2006
Presentation: Study on REACH and developing countries in Vienna
On the 20th of June Chemsec and Dr Frank Ackerman, the main author, of the study “Implications of REACH for the developing countries” will present the study during a lunch meeting at the EP-ACP assembly in Vienna. The study was commissioned by the European Parliament. For further information regarding the meeting please contact us and for information about the study please see below.
Press release 26 April 2006
REACH will cause only marginal effects on developing economies, according to new Parliament study
Coping with the forthcoming chemical legislation in the European Union, REACH, is not likely to cause any substantial problems to economies in African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. This is the conclusion of a new study commissioned by the European Parliament. The International Chemical Secretariat (Chemsec) has, together with a research team with members from US, France and South Africa, conducted a study on the impacts of REACH on African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries (ACP). The report lists and analyzes mineral and chemical exports from ACP countries to Europe that could potentially be affected by REACH. Most exports from ACP to EU are not subject to REACH; most of the exports that are affected by REACH are a few mining products, exported in huge volume. South Africa alone represents almost two-thirds of REACH exports by value. A total of seven ACP countries, including South Africa, have REACH exports that are greater than 2 percent of GDP.
- “The study shows that no significant economic disruption will be caused by REACH to the ACP countries. However, to help countries to comply with REACH, we are suggesting certain measures” says Anne-Sofie Andersson, coordinator of the study at the International Chemical Secretariat.
Pressrelease, Download report, Order a printed summary
Contact the European Parliament regarding a paper copy of the report
7 April 2006
New report on policies and laws on chemicals’ management in Ukraine
"A survey of policies and laws on chemicals' management in Ukraine" has been produced by the Ukrainian NGO MAMA-86 as part of a joint project together with Chemsec; “A Toxic-free Europe – Ukrainian Part”, supported by the Swedish EPA and the O.M. Marzeev Institute of Hygiene and Medical Ecology under the Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine. All-Ukrainian Environmental Non-Governmental Organisation MAMA-86 is a wide network of environmental non-governmental organisations and currently unites 17 organisations from various regions of Ukraine.
14 March 2006
European Parliament strengthens mercury strategy
On 14 March the Plenary of the European Parliament adopted a bold resolution on the Community Strategy concerning mercury. In the resolution, the Parliament is clearly pushing the Commission to strengthen the strategy. An export ban is suggested by 2010, one year earlier than proposed, and the Parliament clarified that mercury compounds should be included in the export ban. The Parliament also requested restrictions to mercury in dental amalgams and in all measuring equipment used by consumers and professionals, such as at healthcare facilities.
The Parliament reiterated the EU’s role in supporting and promoting international action, in line with the mercury export ban. It confirmed the importance of cooperating with mercury mining countries across the world with a view to reaching an agreement on a global legislative instrument on mercury. “During negotiations at the UNEP Governing Council in February 2007 the possibility of a legally binding instrument and other global mercury strategies will be discussed," said Michael Bender of the Ban Mercury Working Group. “So this is the right time to put forward key requests for the upcoming EU mercury meeting this October in Brussels, where other governments from around the globe will be invited into these discussions”.
Full press release from environmental and health NGOs
22 Feb 2006
European Parliament Committee gives its opinion on the Commission’s EU Mercury Strategy
On February 22nd, the The Environment, Public Health and Safety Committee clearly stated that the EU should take stricter action on mercury, and more quickly than suggested by the Commission. The changes advocated by the Committee covered a wide range of issues from protecting vulnerable groups with better risk communication measures about fish consumption to dealing with the mercury cell chlor-alkali manufacturing plants. The Matsakis mercury report now goes on to a vote in the full parliament Plenary in March.
Read more: Mercury report (pdf) or contact Lisette van Vliet
21 Feb 2006
Proposed ban on a limited group of mercury-containing devices
On February 21, the Commission issued its proposal to restrict mercury use in a limited group of measuring devices. The proposal, an amendment to the Directive limiting the marketing and use of specified hazardous substances, will be examined and decided upon by the European Parliament and Council. The Commission has suggested that new fever thermometers containing mercury for consumer and professional (health care and veterinary) use be banned, along with consumer blood pressure gauges (sphygmomanometers), barometers and manometers.
Other medical devices containing mercury are not included, and other professional uses of mercury containing measuring and control devices are also ignored. Nor does it include sale or use of second-hand devices, which means its impact on the releases of mercury will be small – as more mercury is contained in existing devices than in new ones. Despite comments by both member states and NGOs to widen the scope of the ban, during the consultation period on this proposal last year, the Commission has selected a very small group of devices to be prohibited.
Read more: European Public Health Alliance , NGO comments (pdf, 11p)
7 February 2006
SAICM: Chemicals negotiations salvaged
After an extraordinary night-session the torpedoed SAICM process was finally saved. Although the process had seemed to reach roads end at the end of the final day, after three days of negotiations, participating delegates managed to push through a compromise text that met the approval of the participating parties.
As all decisions, after an intensive campaign by the US-delegation, had to be taken by unanimity, the final result included far-reaching compromises to gain the much-needed approval of the US.
4-6 February 2006
SAICM High-level Conference in Dubai: Uncertainty remains after two days of negotiations.
Since Saturday 4 February, Governments, Intergovernmental Organisations and NGOs have been negotiating the adoption of SAICM, The Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management, in the United Arab Emirates capital Dubai. The International Chemical Secretariat is taking part in the conference, through a delegation led by its director, Per Rosander.
The aim of the High-level conference is to adopt three documents, a High Level Declaration, a document on an Overarching policy strategy and a Global Plan of Action.
However, after two days of discussions, SAICM has made little head-way. To a large extent, the main stumbling block in the debate has been the position of the United States. As in the last SAICM meeting, held in Wienna, Austria, in 2005, the US-delegation has questioned most issues in the proposals put forward.
The main points of disagreement have been the wording on the Precautionary principle, issues of finance and a “saving clause”, i.e. a derogation in relation to other agreements. The US is pushing for such a clause to prevent SAICM from being used to support and strengthen the chemicals process in other fora.
On the first day of negotiations, the US delegation managed to abolish the possibility of decisions by a vote, which means that all decisions are taken unanimously. Accordingly, if the European Union does not accept the positions advocated by the US, its only option is to give up on SAICM. This would be no less than a failure after years of negotiations.
27-28 January 2006
ChemSec supports the formation of Belarusian NGO network on chemicals control
On 27-28 January 2006, representatives of the International Chemical Secretariat attended a stakeholder meeting in the capital of Belarus, Minsk, on chemical safety and the implementation of the Stockholm Convention on the elimination of Persistent Organic Pollutants, so-called POPs. The event, entitled “Seminar on Chemical Safety in Belarus” gathered representatives from a number of National Agencies, Research Centres, Universities, Government Ministries and National NGOs, as well as representatives of American, Czech and Swedish Environment Organisations.
In a follow-up to the seminar, Belarusian NGOs decided to form an NGO coalition to work for Chemical safety in Belarus. This collaboration will cover a range of national and local organisations, e.g. BirdLife Belarus, Labour Women, Chernobyl-watch and a number of Belarusian environment organisations.
Kiev, 24-25 Jan 2006
Chemsec co-organizers of seminar in Ukraine
Effect of dangerous chemicals on people's health and environment: Policy of Ukraine and EU in chemical management issues, Kiev, Ukraine 24-25 January 2006. Together with the Ukrainian NGO MAMA-86, Chemsec organized a seminar about the precautionary principle and chemicals management in Ukraine. The report “Achievements of policy and legislation in the chemical management in Ukraine” was presented by MAMA-86.