By means of future amendment to the REACH regulation, which was given the green light by the member states permanent representatives to the EU on Thursday 26 April, European consumers can expect to be better protected against 33 carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic (CMR) substances in clothes, textiles and shoes.
The experts on the REACH committee gave qualified majority approval to a proposal seeking to restrict the marketing authorisation of clothes, textiles and shoes containing such substances, no matter whether these products are manufactured in the EU or are imported.
If neither the European Parliament nor the Council, which have the right of scrutiny, lodges an objection, the text will be deemed to be adopted and will be applicable two years after publication in the Official Journal of the EU.
The experts also gave the green light to the proposed amendment clarifying the way in which companies should go about registering nanomaterials.
The proposals were made by the Commission on 5 March among the minor alterations to be brought to the regulation on the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals bringing it up to date through the comitology procedure (see EUROPE 11974). The Commission concluded from assessment of the regulation, that it met its objectives. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)