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REACH

This presentation highlights the inefficiencies of the current chemicals management system and the need for REACH. It discusses the lack of information and incentives for innovation, as well as the potential health and environmental benefits of implementing REACH. The presentation also provides updates on the progress of co-decision and outlines the key elements of REACH.

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REACH

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  1. REACH ETUC Presentation. 11 March 2005 Jos Delbeke Director Air & Chemicals DG ENV C

  2. Reminder: why do we need REACH? Current chemicals management system is inefficient • Difficult to identify risks – difficult to address risks: • Lack of information about most substances on the market • Burden of proof on public authorities • No efficient instrument to deal with problematic substances • Lack of incentives for innovation • Lack of confidence in chemicals

  3. Progress in co-decision: Timing Nov 2003: Proposal submitted to Parliament and Council Decision making in EP and Council: 2004-2006 • Parliament 1st reading: Autumn 2005? • Political agreement btw MS: end 2005? REACH in force: 2007?

  4. Progress in co-decision • Ad-hoc Working Party on Chemicals established (November 2003, 12 meetings) • Parliament: Environment Committee lead • Suspected timetable • Opinions: Spring 2005 • Voting in ENVI: Summer 2005 • First reading vote in plenary: Autumn 2005 • Economic and Social Committee • Additional Opinion on REACH

  5. Key elements • Prioritisation • Right balance (hazard/risk) • Short/long term impacts • 1-10 tonnes : testing requirements • OSOR • Mandatory sharing • Workability • Agency • Stronger?

  6. Economic Benefits • Simplification • Level playing-field for new and existing substances • Improved innovation (encourage substitution, not forced) • higher demand for safer substances • higher registration thresholds • more R&D flexibility

  7. Health benefits • Commission, (REACH Impact Assessment 2003) respiratory and bladder cancers, skin and respiratory disorders • Health benefits of € 50 billion (order of magnitude) • UK Regulatory Impact Assessment • Between 18 and 37 cancer death reduced per year will be enough to generate a positive cost-benefit ratio of the regulation; • OSHA (European Agency for Safety and Health at work) • Occupational skin diseases are estimated to cost the EU € 600 million each year, resulting in around 3 million lost wd.

  8. Environmental Benefits Orders of magnitude: • EC JRC: pollution prevention • costs of dredging and clean-up contaminated soil/sewage sludge of at least €11 billion in the next decade for the EU15 alone (€11-110 billion) • Nordic Council • Costs associated to PCB pollution between €15 up to 75 billion (up to 2018) • Finnish Ministry of Environment • Remediation of contaminated soil future clean-up costs for Finland up to €1.2 billion in the next two decades. Conclusion: Benefits are difficult to estimate but significant and undisputed* * NL workshop on REACH IA

  9. Costs • Impact Assessment: • Direct costs: €2 billion • Total costs (inc to downstream users): €2.8 - 5.2 billion • Substance loss: 1-2% (to be further investigated) • 60 % of direct costs from testing • An indication of the amount of information industry has about its chemicals?

  10. Further work on benefits • Objective: • Complementary work to Commission IA • Methodology: • Case study approach on potential harmful substances • Avoid the legacy from the past (pollution) • Assess the effectiveness of REACH in reducing the remaining chemical hazards • Timetable: • To be finalised in September 2005

  11. Commission’s Interim Strategy • Commission’s practical preparations • Before REACH coming into force: Jan 2004 – early 2006 • In co-operation with industry and MS • Refocus Current Activities • REACH Implementation Projects (RIPs): • RIP 1: Process descriptions (available on ENV website) • RIP 2: Development of IT systems (REACH-IT) • RIP 3/4: Guidance Documents (industry/authorities) • RIP 5/6: Preparation for start-up of Agency • RIP 7: Commission preparations • Strategic partnerships

  12. Guidance – Industry/Authorities • Guidance prepared by consultants; commented on/steered by stakeholders. • Projects started: • Chemical Safety Report (synergies with worker protection law) • Information Requirements • Substance Identity • Started Feb 05 • Downstream-User Requirements • Carrying out a Socio-Economic Analysis • Preparation of Annex XIV Dossiers (Authorities) [Restrictions; Harmonised C&L; Serious and irreversible effects] • To start mid 05: • Fulfilling the Requirements for articles • Others to come during 2005/2006

  13. Strategic partnerships (SP) • Objective: • Prepare REACH compatible dossiers (mainly with MS) for current work (e.g. substance evaluation) • Developing guidance in partnership; • Testing specific aspects/impacts of the operation of REACH • Strategic Partnership On REACH Testing (SPORT): • a partnership between industry, the European Commission and Member States initiated by CEFIC. Also involving NGOs, Trade Unions, animal welfare org., etc. • to simulate the implementation of REACH by all main actors • an opportunity to test and establish the workability of REACH, and identify solutions if problems are found,

  14. Conclusion • REACH should be in-force by 2007 • Impact Assessment work • Balance between cost and benefit • Commission is preparing for REACH implementation • REACH-IT; guidance; strategic partnerships

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