REACH in brief

REACH, which stands for the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals, will undergo its 2nd Reading vote on 13 December in Strasbourg. The vote is likely to be a formality, since the main political groups in the Parliament agreed – at a meeting behind closed doors with the European Commission and Council in early December - on a compromise deal. This is expected to be ratified by member states on 18 December at the Environment Council. According to its present timetable, REACH will come into force on 1 June 2007.