REACH: A Challenge for the Swiss Chemical Industry!

Abstract

REACH is currently one of the EU's most far-reaching pieces of proposed legislation. The political goals of this proposal are: the protection of human health and environment, the maintenance of the competitiveness of European Chemical industry and to prevent a break-up of the single market. These political goals are basically supported by the chemical industry. However the regulation is far away from any practicable form of legislation. The proposals are expensive, complicated and too bureaucratic for companies. Small and medium-sized enterprises will hardly be able to follow these demands. The special situation of chemical industry in Switzerland, as a non EU country – will be discussed.