After six years of discussion and debate, Europe’s proposed new chemicals legislation, known as REACH, has taken an important step forward. The text approved by the European Parliament on Thursday 17 November at first reading meets some of the ETUC’s key expectations.

The European Parliament’s compromise maintains the burden of proof in all cases on industry, which must provide information on the hazards and risks of chemicals and on risk reduction measures. The text also maintains the principle of "duty of care", under which manufacturers have a duty to inform users about the safety of their products. Manufacturers and importers will also have to provide chemical safety reports for all substances covered by REACH.

On authorisation, the principle of compulsory substitution is guaranteed for "substances of high concern" (carcinogenic, mutagenic, toxic, persistent and bioaccumulative). This position is in keeping with better health protection and is consistent with European legislation on the protection of workers against carcinogenic substances.

The ETUC also applauds the mechanisms of support and guidance for SMEs foreseen by the text. The European trade union movement hopes these measures will contribute to many quality jobs in such companies, which provide the greater part of employment in the sector.

The ETUC has always supported an ambitious REACH project, because without adequate and reliable data the proposal would fail to achieve its objectives in terms of health at the workplace.

In this regard, the ETUC takes a more doubtful view. It regrets that a significant number of chemical substances produced in amounts of one to ten tonnes a year are no longer covered by the testing requirements included in the initial draft.

The EU Council of Ministers must now decide on the REACH proposal. The ETUC urges the Council not to use this as an occasion to water down the text.