Having taken nearly 9 years to develop, and having provoked the 'fierciest lobbying battle in EU history', REACH has finally come in to force accross Europe.  REACH puts the burden of proof on to the producer to show that their chemicals are safe, allows the public to request information about the use of some hazordous substances in products, and requires some of the most hazardous chemicals to be substituted when there are safer alternatives. 

 

Fierce lobbying by the chemicals industry has resulted in a number of loopholes and legal uncertainties in REACH.  But we can still influence the implementation of REACH to change it for the better over the next few years.  We can also use the new provisions it gives us. 

For more information see WWW.chemicalreaction.org, a joint project set up between the European Environmental Bureau, Friends of the Earth Europe, and Greenpeace.  An Taisce is a member of the European Environmental Bureau.