By Daisy Ayliffe - 11th December 2006
MEPs are expected to settle years of wrangling this week when they vote on Reach chemicals rules in Strasbourg.
The wide-ranging EU law on toxic chemicals will be voted on by parliament on Wednesday, putting it on track to come into force in 2007.
The new law will impose safety checks on 30,000 chemicals used in everyday products, to be administered by a new EU chemicals agency in Helsinki.
At the second reading plenary debate in Strasbourg on Monday, most MEPs are expected to throw their weight behind compromise proposals drawn up by Italian rapporteur Guido Sacconi.
But opposition to the regulation will be lead by Green MEPs who fear it has been dangerously watered down.
Sacconi supported plans for 1500 of the most dangerous chemicals to be refused authorisation if safer alternatives exist.
But in a concession to the chemicals industry, some of the substances will be approved if producers show that they can be adequately controlled.
Industry had argued that mandatory substitution could lead to a ban on substances that have socio-economic benefits.
“The European parliament has finally sold out to the intense lobbying of the German chemical industry and agreed a compromise with the council which will seriously limit the potential benefits of Reach in terms of protecting EU citizens and the environment from toxic chemicals,” Green MEP Carl Schlyter hit back.
But it is unlikely the Green lobby will be able to block the legislation when it is voted on at second reading on Wednesday.
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