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Vote on EU chemical industry plan New European chemical law passed
(20 minutes later)
The European Parliament is to vote on a deal, reached with EU governments, on wide-ranging legislation to control the use of toxic chemicals in industry. The European Parliament has backed a deal, reached with EU governments, on wide-ranging legislation to control the use of toxic chemicals in industry.
The draft law would come into force in 2007, and is designed to make firms prove the many chemicals they use in products from cars to clothes are safe. The draft law will come into force in 2007, and is designed to make firms prove the many chemicals they use in products from cars to clothes are safe.
It comes after wrangling between environmentalists wanting action and firms seeking to avoid laborious rules.It comes after wrangling between environmentalists wanting action and firms seeking to avoid laborious rules.
If the vote backs the deal, EU nations will implement the new rules by 2018. EU nations will have until 2018 to implement the new rules.
'Ambitious' legislation Safety standards
The system for registration, evaluation and authorisation of chemicals (Reach) will demand that firms provide lists of the chemicals they use and list any possible risks. The system for registration, evaluation and authorisation of chemicals (Reach) demands that firms provide lists of the chemicals they use and list any possible risks.
A newly-established agency in Finland will oversee the way the firms assess the 30,000 chemicals they use.A newly-established agency in Finland will oversee the way the firms assess the 30,000 chemicals they use.
"After an extremely difficult political process, we are now close to adopting the world's most ambitious piece of legislation on public health and environment protection," said Guido Sacconi, the Italian Socialist chiefly responsible for steering the bill through the European Parliament.
"It is now time to take our responsibilities and make Reach finally enter into force."
Safety standard
The register will initially focus on the most toxic chemicals and those produced in the largest quantity.The register will initially focus on the most toxic chemicals and those produced in the largest quantity.
Manufacturers will have to come up with plans to replace the most hazardous chemicals, but they will not be banned outright as environmentalists had hoped.Manufacturers will have to come up with plans to replace the most hazardous chemicals, but they will not be banned outright as environmentalists had hoped.
While the EU said the deal improved the safety standard of chemicals, green lobbyists were angered by what they saw as the EU bowing to industry pressure.While the EU said the deal improved the safety standard of chemicals, green lobbyists were angered by what they saw as the EU bowing to industry pressure.
The compromise agreement will need an absolute majority in the parliament, equivalent to 367 votes, to be approved.
The parliament's major political groups have already given their general support to the package.