The Change Mariner

EU cracks down on household chemicals

Washington Times:

The European Union announced a program Tuesday to increase its regulation of chemicals found in many household items.

The BBC said the new regulations would require companies to disclose basic data on all the chemicals they produce. Around 30,000 chemicals will undergo tests to prove their safety if the proposals become law in 2005.

The new legislation, known as REACH -- Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals -- has been hailed by supporters as the most important new regulation in 20 years, totally altering the way chemicals are controlled in Europe.

The BBC said REACH plan is designed to identify potentially harmful chemicals and classify them as "substances of very high concern." Such chemicals then would be phased out and replaced with safer alternatives.