Brussels, 02/11/2004 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission, Member States and industry have launched the Sport pilot project to test how REACH legislation on chemical products works (EUROPE 30 October p 14 on the subject of the synthesis seminary on REACH's impact, organised by the Dutch presidency).
A press statement explained that Sport (Strategic Partnership on REACH Testing) is part of an interim strategy launched in October 2003 by the European Commission to help prepare all interested parties to implement this complex legislation. The communiqué underlines that the draft includes equal participation and management from the Commission, Member States and industry, including small and medium-sized enterprises and downstream users, which make up the Sport steering Group. NGOs, unions and the European Chemical Regions have been invited as observers to the Steering Group meetings.
The press statement indicates that "a representative selection of chemical companies, both big and small, will set out in November to simulate the registration and dossier evaluation steps of REACH as realistically as possible". The work will cover eight substances or substance groups. The work on each substance will be led by a manufacturing or importing company. A final report is expected for mid-2005 but interim reports are also expected.
REACH Steering Group president, Roger Tregunno was quoted in the press statement as saying, "Testing the workability of the biggest part of REACH, registration, under conditions that come as close to practice as feasible at this stage may help to avoid some of the disappointments that were experienced with earlier legislation".