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July 21, 2008 A new article in Industry Week magazine offers an interesting and brief explanation of Europe’s new chemicals regulation laws (the Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals (REACH) legislation), and how they differ from the North American approach being developed through the Security and Prosperity Partnership. “REACH has taken seven years to formulate and, for the first time, makes evaluation of essentially all chemicals on the European market mandatory,” writes the article. “Replacing more than 30 chemicals directives, it has been described as the most complex legislation in the European Union's history, as well as the most important for 20 years. “With the pre-registration period for REACH now underway (June 1), all chemicals of one ton or more in volume that are manufactured in, or imported into, the EU each year, must be tested for their effect on health and safety and registered with a new central European authority -- the European Chemicals Agency -- located in Helsinki, Finland,” continues the article, which predicts that because the cost of registering a new chemical could cost over $3 million, companies will be encouraged to seek out more environmentally friendly alternatives. Contrast this to the SPP model, which will gauge risk levels in only 9,000 chemicals (REACH will handle 30,000) produced in quantities of over 25,000 pounds (the REACH limit is 1,000 pounds). The SPP model “puts the onus of testing on regulators instead of manufacturers,” claims the article, and “advocates argue that safety and environmental consciousness can be achieved without the costs incurred by REACH.” For more information on the SPP and chemicals regulation, see our previous posts: EPA discusses North American toxics harmonization at GlobalChem conference |
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