Strong interest in Beyond REACH Conference

The European Voice’s one-and-a-half day conference on the consequences of the proposed legislation for a new system to Register, Evaluate and Authorise Chemicals (REACH) has started today with a record number of delegates both from the political world and from industry.

The keynote speech for this conference was delivered by Margot Wallström, Environment Commisioner of the European Commission. The focus of the one-and-a-half day conference is on the effects of REACH on competitiveness, innovation, policing, funding, interaction with other regulatory systems and the safety of consumers and the environment.

With more than 120 delegates representing both the industry and its stakeholders as well as government and non-government organisations, Beyond REACH has established itself as an independent platform for ongoing discussion and interaction between participants.

The conference is organised by The Economist’s European Voice newspaper and sponsored by Procter & Gamble, Unilever and Burson-Marsteller.

The Beyond REACH conference was developed for those involved in chemicals manufacturing, use and safety and will be co-chaired by Niels von Hombracht, member of the executive board, European Petrochemical Association and former board member, Royal Vopak NV and David Earnshaw, Managing Director, Burson-Marsteller.

At the beginning of the conference, Niels van Hombracht said: “Chemical products are indispensible for today’s prosperity and lifestyle. I hope this conference will help us to understand how we can give them a more sustainable position in our lives and create a healthier environment whilst satisfying all stakeholders.”

REACH will have long-term implications not only for chemicals manufacturers, but also for downstream users, retailers and SMEs. Their concerns range from the time and cost burdens of testing to the practicalities of implementing the new system.

Environmental and consumer groups, on the other hand, are anxious to see and end to the use of the most dangerous and harmful chemicals which can accumulate in the human body, nature and wildlife. They also want to ensure the enforcement of greater transparency about the substances which find their way into everyday consumer products.

The EU’s major trading partners have also raised concerns about the impact of REACH on imports and its implications for free trade in a global trading environment, should chemicals policy be seen only in a worldwide context?

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