THE chemicals in everyday products such as artificial musk in perfumes have been proved safe by comprehensive testing 鈥� right? Well maybe. In European Union countries mandatory testing did not begin for most chemicals until 1981, so those in use before then, including artificial musk, were not tested to the same standards.
The EU鈥檚 long-negotiated REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Approval of Chemicals) law, expected next year, is supposed to plug the gaps by forcing companies to test these chemicals. But the industry has been complaining about how much it will cost.
鈥淐ompanies have complained about the cost of having to test chemicals already in use鈥�
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Now two major surveys, one funded by the chemical industry and the other by the European Commission, have found that REACH should have a minimal financial impact, and could even give companies a competitive boost. The studies found that the costs should not force companies to withdraw or reformulate products, and could mainly be absorbed along the manufacturing chain, although a few non-vital substances might be withdrawn as not worth registering.
Environmental groups say the the surveys have overestimated REACH鈥檚 costs four-fold, so the impact will be even less than the findings suggest. CEFIC, the European chemical industry council, argues that small firms will be hardest hit.
