REACH
Update: European Union lawmakers and governments struck a deal on Thursday over REACH, the wide-ranging draft law on toxic chemicals, putting it on track to enter force in the first part of 2007. Story here.
Reuters has details about the political wrangling about REACH, the proposal for a new chemicals legislation in the EU. I spent a large part of my lecture about environmental hormons in Seoul last week discussing the merits of REACH. As Chosun Ilbo notes, most Korean exports to the EU contain chemicals, and almost every export item will be affected by REACH. Korean Exporters Brace for Environmental Rules Abroad.
An attempt was initiated in 1998 by Japan to deal with reprotoxic chemicals. It is known as the Strategic Programs on Environmental Endocrine Disrupters (SPEED) program, but its original scope was significantly reduced faced with the chemical industry's criticism. Here is a website with MoE's information. This is a debate where a lot is at stake.
Reuters: Talks On EU Chemicals Reform Stalled Ahead of Vote
Talks between European Union lawmakers and EU governments over a far-reaching reform of the chemicals sector stalled on Monday just weeks before an important vote in the European Parliament.
The bill, known as REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals), was designed to make companies prove substances in everyday products such as cars, computers or paint are safe.
EU states, the parliament and the executive European Commission are negotiating changes to the bill before it goes before the full parliament for a second-reading vote, scheduled for mid-December.
As that deadline approaches, talks were suspended late on Monday after a German conservative member of parliament said he needed more time to consult with his party, according to sources familiar with the talks.
One source said the talks were interrupted, not over, and would resume later this week. "It has not broken down. It will be continued after (a) suspension," the source said.
According to REACH, the properties of roughly 30,000 chemicals produced or imported in the European Union would have to be registered with a central agency. Those of highest concern, such as carcinogens, would require testing and authorisation.
(...)
WWF Europe and WWF Japan have campaigns against toxic chemicals. For more data about the problem in Japan, do have a look at the People's Association on Countermeasure of Dioxin & Endocrine Disrupters website and subscribe to their newsletter.
Reuters has details about the political wrangling about REACH, the proposal for a new chemicals legislation in the EU. I spent a large part of my lecture about environmental hormons in Seoul last week discussing the merits of REACH. As Chosun Ilbo notes, most Korean exports to the EU contain chemicals, and almost every export item will be affected by REACH. Korean Exporters Brace for Environmental Rules Abroad.
An attempt was initiated in 1998 by Japan to deal with reprotoxic chemicals. It is known as the Strategic Programs on Environmental Endocrine Disrupters (SPEED) program, but its original scope was significantly reduced faced with the chemical industry's criticism. Here is a website with MoE's information. This is a debate where a lot is at stake.
Reuters: Talks On EU Chemicals Reform Stalled Ahead of Vote
Talks between European Union lawmakers and EU governments over a far-reaching reform of the chemicals sector stalled on Monday just weeks before an important vote in the European Parliament.
The bill, known as REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals), was designed to make companies prove substances in everyday products such as cars, computers or paint are safe.
EU states, the parliament and the executive European Commission are negotiating changes to the bill before it goes before the full parliament for a second-reading vote, scheduled for mid-December.
As that deadline approaches, talks were suspended late on Monday after a German conservative member of parliament said he needed more time to consult with his party, according to sources familiar with the talks.
One source said the talks were interrupted, not over, and would resume later this week. "It has not broken down. It will be continued after (a) suspension," the source said.
According to REACH, the properties of roughly 30,000 chemicals produced or imported in the European Union would have to be registered with a central agency. Those of highest concern, such as carcinogens, would require testing and authorisation.
(...)
WWF Europe and WWF Japan have campaigns against toxic chemicals. For more data about the problem in Japan, do have a look at the People's Association on Countermeasure of Dioxin & Endocrine Disrupters website and subscribe to their newsletter.
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