The Council held a policy debate on the proposals for a Regulation and for a Directive on registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals and on the establishment of a European Chemicals Agency, with a view to giving political guidance for further work by forthcoming Presidencies.
Delegations were invited to answer the following indicative questions suggested by the Presidency:
– having regard to the relative roles and contributions of the authorisation and restrictions processes for the management of risks to human health and the environment from substances of very high concern, and the inter-relationship between these two processes, there is merit in exploring the scope for improving the workability of the proposal so that the underlying objectives are met in a timely and resource-efficient manner ?
– does the Council consider that the Commission proposal covers the essential elements to encourage substitution for substances of very high concern so as to reduce the risks to human health and the environment while stimulating innovation and enhancing the competitiveness of European industry ?
– does the Council consider that the Commission proposal provides adequately for the quality of data provided by industry, or that there is merit, in the ongoing examination of REACH, in investigating the need for additional measures ?