06/04/2004 (Agence Europe) - CDU representative Thomas Mann is calling for an assessment into the job impact on the European chemical industry of new proposed European legislation on chemicals (REACH). The MEP notes that the EU chemical industry still holds a "leading position" with 31% of the world's production and that 96% of the 36 000 companies in the sector in Europe are SMEs, accounting directly or indirectly for some 5 million jobs. Mr Mann points out that the Commission considers over 30 000 products will have to be registered, and over 5 000 evaluated in the next eleven years . As costs of registering "vary according to initial estimates from 20 000 to 24 000 euros per category of product" Mr Mann fears an "avalanche" of additional costs for SMEs, with serious consequences.