Europarliamentarians resist industry pressure in crucial vote for REACH

Members of the Parliaments Environment and Public Health Committee yesterday voted for key amendments that strengthen the current draft legislation REACH

05.10.2005 |Daniela Rosche

"We are relieved to see that Parliamentarians realized on time how much was at stake" says Daniela Rosche, WECF policy coordinator" Parliamentarians agreed to strengthen key passages of REACH such as the principle for duty of care for industry and the substitution principle which will ensure that hazardous chemicals will be taken off the market. Yet, there weren't enough MEPs to back the strengthening of registration requirements of production volumes between 1-10 t per year.

"It is now up to the plenary to ensure that this last gap in REACH is closed. Otherwise we will not achieve a stable and long-term protection of health and the environment in Europe."

See joint NGO press release.