last updated 18th November 05
By 4ecotips

Heavy hand of industry is the winner

New EU rules designed to regulate toxic chemicals adopted recently by the European Parliament will largely fail to protect human health or the environment, according to Euro-MP Caroline Lucas.

She says: "A deal between socialist and conservative MEPs has ensured that the heavy hand of industry can be seen all over this legislation, which has been redrafted to pander to cost-cutting and self-interest at the expense of European citizens' health."

The REACH (Registration, Authorisation and Evaluation of Chemicals) directive will completely overhaul EU chemicals safety legislation, and was originally intended to cut the use of deadly chemicals in everyday items such as cleaning products, cosmetics, computers and carpets. It was adopted today by 407 votes to 155, with 41 abstentions.

But after two years of wrangling and one of the most intense lobbying efforts ever seen, the proposals adopted are so watered down they could fail to deliver health or environmental benefits at all, according to Green MEP Caroline Lucas.

"The so-called 'Nassauer Compromise' adopted today slashes the number or chemicals to be covered by the directive - by 90% of those created in quantities of between one and ten tonnes and it creates massive loopholes for industry," she said. "It even weakens existing legislation for new chemicals by excluding chemicals produced in quantities of between 10kg and one tonne from its scope."

Dr Lucas had backed environmental and consumer NGOs' calls for a strong REACH capable of protecting all EU citizens from the toxic effects of thousands of synthetic chemicals present in everyday objects - many of which have never been tested for safety.

Speaking after the vote, she says: "Around 75% of all cancers are caused by environmental factors, mainly chemicals, and each year more than 30,000 die in the EU due to occupational exposure to substances which are carcinogenic.

"This directive was designed to require manufacturers to ensure their products don't contain the chemicals responsible. It does accept the principle that the most toxic substances must be replaced with safer alternatives where available, but it creates exemptions for thousands of chemicals about which little is known.