John Kourbage

John Kourbage

tion process for all of the 30,000 chemicals should be completed in 11 years. The first stage of the process aims to register substances that are produced in the largest quantities and the most harmful ones, such as carcinogens, mutagens and toxins affecting reproduction.

The direct costs of supplying safety information about a substance range from $26,500 to $530,000, depending on the volume of data requirements, according to the parliament.

REACH replaces some 40 directives currently governing the use of chemicals in the EU. In the past, companies could sell almost any chemical without being required to provide detailed health and safety information.