ETUC Conference on REACH March 2005 Improving REACH ETUC proposals on DUTY OF CARE Waldemar BAHR EMCEF

ETUC Conference on REACH March 2005  Chemicals are a part of our life, we need them in our daily life, as cosmetics, dress, in computers and so on.  Chemicals contribute to EU economic prosperity in terms of trade and jobs:  EU chemical industry turnover in 2003 was € 556 billion  1.7 million workers  ~ different chemicals listed on the Community market.  Some of them may have damaging effects on health and the environment.

ETUC Conference on REACH March 2005 Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development (September 2002)  Chemicals must, by 2020, be produced and used in a way which is not damaging to human health and the environment.

ETUC Conference on REACH March 2005  The REACH Regulation proposed by the Commission on 29 October 2003 represents a model of sustainable development by pursuing objectives of the three pillars:  Economic (industrial competitiveness)  Social (health protection and jobs)  Environment  REACH covers substances manufactured or imported in the EU in quantities of 1 tonne or above per year

ETUC Conference on REACH March 2005 REACH, Article 1, Number 3:

ETUC Conference on REACH March 2005 ETUC proposals:  The European Unions expect, that all manufacturers, importers and downstream user act so !  We need more information and training to the workers and their representatives about risks and correctly use of all substances.  We need more and better communication in the supply chain.

ETUC Conference on REACH March 2005 ETUC proposals:  We need more and better communication between workers and employers about safety, health and environment protection.  This communication must be organised between Unions and Employer Organisations and then inside enterprises.  “Responsible Care” in the chemical industry is a good example.