§ Vera BairdTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the REACH proposals for regulation of the chemical industry. [136681]
§ Alun MichaelThe Government is committed to the new EU Chemicals Strategy, which aims to improve protection for human health and the environment. The new EU Chemicals Strategy is trying to address the fact that thousands of chemicals have been used for many years without adequate information about their hazardous properties or what risks are involved in their short-term and long-term use. In doing so, the proposal for new chemicals legislation, which was adopted by the European Commission on 29 October 2003, should create greater transparency and help identify chemicals of concern.
In the forthcoming negotiations the UK has three overarching objectives:
733WTo create a fast, efficient and workable process of testing, screening and assessing substances of concern, starting with the most harmful, because of their impact on human health or the environment;To keep animal testing to the minimum necessary to protect human health and the environment; andTo maintain or enhance the competitiveness of the chemical industry and downstream users.We are currently considering the Commission proposal to assess how far it meets these objectives. The Government will carry out a UK consultation early in the new year which will be accompanied by a regulatory impact assessment, and provide an opportunity for all interested stakeholders to express their views.