EU Backs Landmark Chemicals Law

The ministers' version of the law does not force firms to swap safe chemicals for dangerous ones, unlike the text passed by the European Parliament. Attempts will be made to resolve the differences next year, when the law - known as Reach, or Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals - goes to a second reading. Reach should lead to thousands of chemicals used in household products such as computers, toys and detergents, being tested for their impact on health and the environment for the first time. "We have succeeded in making Reach more effective and more workable." --EU Industry Commissioner Guenter Verheugen. Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/europe/4524772.stm Published: 2005/12/13 14:24:39 GMT [Proofreader's note: this article was edited for spelling and typos on December 14, 2005]

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