Where should the Chemicals Policy go?

Excerpt

The Commission of the European Community (CEC) is currently preparing an extensive review of its chemicals policy, the aim of which will be to create a new regulatory system for existing and new substances, through a Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH) system. The new chemicals policy is based on a "White Paper" forwarded by CEC's Commissioner Margot Wallström, head of the European Directorate-General (DG) Environment. The Commission believes that one of the benefits of REACH will be improved occupational health. Industry groups, whilst not disagreeing with the aim to reduce workplace-related health risks, are worried that the design of this system could lead to major disadvantages for the European chemical industry and its employees. One of the key arguments in this discussion is the cost-effectiveness of REACH. It is assumed by the CEC that the estimated direct and indirect costs of 18–32 billion euros following the implementation of REACH would be compensated, at least partially, by considerable cost savings through the reduction of the number of cases of chemical-related disease in Europe (Liikanen and Wallström 2003). …