Scientists call for more debate over EU chemicals legislation

The appeal to the European Commission mirrors the food industry's call for more consultation on the EU's proposed chemicals legislation, known as Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (Reach). The food industry has said the legislation would lead to huge costs and harm their competitiveness.

Chemicals as contaminants in food are of great concern to European consumers, as shown in the latest EU Barometer survey. It shows that 63 per cent are concerned about pesticide residues in fruit and vegetables, as compared to the 62 per cent who are worried about bird flu type viruses.

Research scientists at an annual meeting n St Malo France of the EU- supported research network, Cascade, said the legislation needed more public debate. The scientists support the legislation as a means of cutting down on chemical use within the bloc. The meeting ended on Friday.

"We call for open discussions on the implications of REACH, with consumer organisations and industry. As a network of top scientists in this field we feel it is our responsibility to provide a platform for such discussions,"​ stated Jan-åke Gustafsson, a coordinator of the meeting.

Currently, more than 100 000 chemicals are released into the environment and come in contact with humans via for example preservatives in food, flame retardants in computers and plastic softeners. For about 80 000 of these chemicals there is not enough knowledge to say if, and in that case how, harmful they might be to humans, the scientists stated.

The EU legislation proposal for Reach suggests that all chemicals used in industry must be registered, evaluated and approved and that the spread of potentially harmful chemicals be limited.

"We believe that the EU Parliament must consider long-term effects of exposure to chemicals and protect the European population from involuntary exposure to potentially toxic chemicals,"​ Gustafsson stated.

As a result of REACH, EU will be one of the first regions in the world to form a joint view on health aspects of chemical contaminants in food. This legislation will have profound effects on areas such as industry, food safety and environmental concern within and outside EU.

The much debated REACH proposal will be up for a second reading in the Parliament European Council later this year.

The EU proposed regulating chemicals underwent a series of controversial transformations as it passed through the Parliament and the EU's ministers, with consumer groups condemning the changes as a further watering down of the law in favour of industry.

In December the EU's Council of Ministers made further amendments in their favour. These include the relaxation of an amendment adopted in November by the European Parliament requiring companies to substitute hazardous chemicals with safer alternatives whenever possible.

The deal by EU government ministers rejecting mandatory substitution could lead to a showdown between governments and European Parliamentary members next year, when the bill is due to go back to MEPs for further debate.

In the main Germany, Poland and Ireland advocated pro-industry concerns, while Luxembourg, Denmark and Sweden want tighter environmental rules.

Under the European Council amendment removing the mandatory substitution clause, the new European regulator created by the law will have to grant an authorisation under an "adequate control" procedure, even if safer alternatives are available.

Companies will have to replace about 200 of the most toxic substances with safer alternatives. Companies would also have to show that about 1,500 less hazardous substances, such as phthalates, are used with "adequate control" and to suggest potential alternatives.

The ministers representing the EU's member governments also voted to drastically reduce safety data that chemical producers would be obliged to supply. However they attempted to balance this by boosting information-sharing obligations for big firms. The changes would limit them from opting out from the one substance one registration (OSOR) principle under the rules.

OSOR requires companies to collaborate and share information on their testing with other firms so that costs are not duplicated. The rule is meant to help smaller firms.

The ministers also cut clauses that would have required firms to follow basic safety rules for chemicals outside the scope of Reach and to disclose safety data to consumers.

However consumer groups say this change would lead to thousands of chemicals remaining in use in the market without adequate health safety information being available.