25/11/2004 (Agence Europe) - In a press release, the "SME Circle" (EPP-ED working group at the European Parliament set up to defend the interests of small and medium-sized enterprises from European legislation) has called for the adoption of the REACH legislation on chemical products to be preceded by a specific study into the possible effects on SMEs. Other assessments have already been completed, acknowledge MEPs Alexander Radwan (CSU), President of the working group, and Werner Langen (CDU), rapporteur for the parliament's committee on industry, but in order to guarantee the success of REACH we must make certain that small and medium-sized enterprises are not going to suffer from it. However, they fear that the proposal as it stands will impose enormous bureaucratic obstacles on these companies, some of which might even be forced out of business. In principle, say the MEPs, our working group supports the European Commission's intention to change European legislation on chemical products, because Europe needs a new directive in this field, in order to take greater advantage of the single market.