Brussels, 07/05/2004 (Agence Europe) - At its AGM in Barcelona in March, the European Federation of Managerial Staff in the Chemical and Allies Industries (FECCIA) repeated its views on the European Commission's proposals for a new chemicals policy in the EU, REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals), noting that in its view, the draft regulations would create an unworkable, expensive and bureaucratic system without providing greater protection for consumers or the environment. FECCIA said it would continue its fight against REACH, which it described as creating obstacles to investment, innovation and job prospects.
FECCIA invites EU institutions and national agencies to develop sustainable chemical industry rules with a balanced impact in terms of economics, ecology and social affairs. FECCIA and its members pledged to support a policy taking the following issues into consideration: (1) expenses and costs must be kept down by using existing information and a study of the most important properties; (2) assessment and tests must be based on identifiable risks rather than on intrinsic characteristics of the raw materials; (3) partially transformed products should not be included; (4) procedures should be kept short in order not to delay the launch of new chemicals; (5) there should be a single central agency at EU level and registration with it should apply throughout the EU; (6) there should not be any doubt about REACH replacing national and European legislation so it must not be possible to require registration more than once; and (7) national and European authorities should inform the public about the importance of the chemical industry and the correct use of chemicals to the advantage of all, not just chemical industry staff.
FECCIA represents 40,000 managerial staff and is affiliated to the European Confederation of Managerial Staff (CEC).