Toxic chemicals and REACH
To tackle the use of toxic chemicals in our products, the EU has created a new piece of legislation called REACH (Registration, Authorisation and Evaluation of Chemicals). The regulation is based on the principle that it is for everyone in the chemical supply chain, from manufacturers and importers through to downstream users to ensure that the products they manufacture or place on the market do not adversely affect human health or the environment.
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Right to Know: Consumers and toxic chemicals
As a consumer you are entitled to information about the toxic chemical content of any product you buy in the EU. A recent study carried out by ChemicalWatch found that not one of 14 major retailers, including Renault, Tesco, WH Smith and Argos could provide information about the toxic content of their products when asked, despite a legal obligation for them to do so within 45 days.
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Problems with REACH
When the consultation phase of REACH was underway in 2003, the European Commission received more than 6,000 contributions from industry associations, governments, NGOs and the public, causing one of the fiercest lobbying battles in EU history. The result has been a severe watering down of the legislation which has created loopholes and concessions to industry.
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