REACH: barely alive and in critical condition

European Parliament rubberstamps second reading REACH deal

13.12.2006 |Daniela Rosche

As expected, the European Parliament this morning formally adopted a deal on the new EU chemicals policy, REACH, in a second reading plenary vote. The deal was agreed together with the member states represented in the Council. The Council will symbolically adopt the deal next week. This means REACH will enter into force as of January 2007.

In their joint press release, Women in Europe and their NGO partners, argued that the implementation of REACH will require a lot of attention because of the big loopholes contained in the new legislation.

" It is a scandal that substances which are known to cause cancer, miscarriages and birthdefects can stay on the market in the future. For a pregnant woman this means for exampled that she and her developing child will continue to be exposed to reproductive toxins from everyday consumer products" argues Daniela Rosche WECF REACH expert.

Women in Europe and the Health and Environment Alliance, last night called on MEPs to support the Greens/GUE package instead of the second reading agreement in a joint letter.

Download the joint press release of BUND, Greenpeace and WECF in German.