European Commission puts chemical producers' interests before public health and environment

Greenpeace installs giant test tube at EU chemical industry meeting

Greenpeace today reacted to newly published chemicals regulations by claiming that the European Commission had bowed to the interests of the chemical industry instead of addressing public health and environmental concerns.

Speaking about the Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals legislation (REACH), Oliver Knowles, Greenpeace Toxics Campaigner, said:

"In effect, the European Commission have put the interests of the chemical industry ahead of public health and the environment.

"Unless REACH specifically requires dangerous chemicals to be substituted with safer alternatives, then this legislation will do nothing to protect either human health or the environment.

"Members of the European Parliament and national governments must close loopholes that will allow the production of harmful chemicals to continue."

REACH currently contains a loophole that means even if a safer alternative is available, at a comparable price, production of a "chemical of very high concern" (those chemicals that can cause cancer, damage genetic material, interfere with the body's hormone system or is a reproductive toxin) can continue as long as the producer can demonstrate "adequate control". However, "adequate control" is based on an acceptable level of risk from this exposure.

Oliver Knowles said: "There is no need whatsoever to take the enormous risks associated with dangerous chemicals when a safer substitute exists. The idea of "adequate control" is a complete anomaly because there is simply no way to effectively control these hazardous substances."

For more information, contact the Greenpeace press office on 020 7865 8255.