High level REACH group aims for speedy response to industry's deadline worries

More information has emerged regarding the new Directors’ Contact Group, which met for the first time last Friday with the aim of addressing industry concerns regarding this year’s REACH registration deadline (CW 5 February 2010)

The group aims to identify priority issues of concern relating to the registration deadline and develop practical solutions. Industry is particularly worried about potential disruption to supplies of high-volume substances if the 30 November 2010 deadline is not met.

According to a statement from the Commission, the group will work fast because time is short. Its first task will be to develop an inventory of issues of concern and to outline practical actions that can be implemented before June. Furthermore, the group will monitor the implementation and effect of its recommendations along with overall progress towards registration. It will also address ad-hoc issues as they occur.

The group consists of director-level representatives from the European Commission, the European Chemicals Agency and from the industry associations: the European Chemical Industry Council, CEFIC; the European association of non-ferrous metals, Eurométaux; the REACH Alliance, a grouping of 16 industry sectors ranging from alloys, cement, concrete, minerals, glass and paper; the oil producers’ group Concawe; the European distributors’ association, FECC and SME representative group, UEAPME.

• European Commission’s Midday Express