04/02/2005 (Agence Europe) - Hartmut Nassauer (CDU), Rapporteur of the EP Committee on the Internal Market on REACH legislation on chemical products, urged the parliamentary committees concerned (internal market, industry and environment) to adopt a coherent stance on this controversial proposal. He warned that, given the fact that there is division, the Council will not hesitate to “play Commission and Parliament off against each other”. After having become familiar with the working document of the rapporteur for the committee on the environment, Guido Sacconi (PES, Italy), Mr Nassauer says, he considers such conciliation of positions is still possible as, despite the differences that still remain, there are also points in common. Thus, he states in a press release, there is broad consensus on the need to have Community regulations on the matter and to conclude in first reading in the autumn, while the main problem remains the method for registration of chemical substances. (See EUROPE of 28 January, p.8, and, for declarations by Commissioner Verheugen, 3 February, p.7).