AFX News Limited
12.13.2005, 07:53 AM

BRUSSELS (AFX) - EU member states have secured a political agreement on the future regulation of chemicals in the bloc.

The agreement on the controversial measures comes despite strong opposition to a tightening of the existing regulatory framework among powerful lobby groups within the chemicals industry.

The legislative proposal now goes to the European Parliament for its second vote of approval in the second half of next year -- a procedure that is seen as a formality.

The European Commission said it expects the law to enter into force by the first half of 2007, with operational requirements scheduled to start from 2008 onwards.

Guenter Verheughen, EU commissioner for enterprise and industry, said: 'This agreement puts an end to a long period of uncertainty for industry and helps them plan for the very challenging task of meeting the new requirements.'

Under the amended REACH laws for the evaluation and authorisation of chemicals, companies would have to register the manufacture of all chemicals of which more than 10 tonnes per year are produced EU-wide.

They would also have to supply a complete data record for chemicals produced in quantities of between one and ten tonnes if they are cancerous, show high levels of toxicity or are particularly hazardous in other respects.

The burden of proof on whether a substance is damaging or not will lie with the industry.

In all, some 30,000 different chemicals are produced in quantities of one tonne or more per year, and some 10,000 in quantities exceeding 10 tonnes.

The implementation of the new laws would be overseen by a new agency based in Finland and staffed by representatives from each country.

The EU chemical industry is estimated to be worth 360 bln eur in annual sales, accounting for 28 pct of worldwide production.

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