REACH from the Viewpoint of Environmental Protection

Abstract

In 2005, Switzerland harmonised its law on chemicals with the related EU law on chemicals by bringing the Chemicals Act and the PARCHEM ordinances into force. Unless this law on chemicals is revised again, both at act and at ordinance level, Swiss regulations will again differ from those of the EU in important respects. The question therefore arises of whether and to what extent the Swiss legislation on chemicals should be adapted to REACH. In this article, we consider the need for REACH in order to resolve the existing chemicals issue, the contribution of the new regulations to the protection of the environment, the relationship between the new EU regulation and the existing Swiss legislation and how the possibility of collaboration with the European Chemicals Agency could influence the Swiss adaptation process.