3rd plenary meeting social dialogue chemical industry

1
3rd plenary meeting social dialogue chemical
industry

• Point of view EMCEF
• on activites of the working group on REACH

2
Background

• Chemicals legislation on the agenda since 90s
• present proposal published in 2003
• We all have sufficient knowledge about REACH
• There is in large a common understanding on
  neccessarry improvements of the draft

3
Next steps

• EP on the way to first reading
• Vote in environment committee of EP in beginning
  of October 2005
• Council will discuss common point of view in
  December
• EU-Commission on the way to prepare amended draft

4
Agreement of social partners

• The social partners want a REACH legislation that
  could contribute to the improvement of
  environment, but also strengthen chemical
  industry in global competition and ensure good
  social conditions
• This could only be achieved with a workable,
  clear and user-friendly legislation that does not
  create additional burdens for the industry
• The common statement of the social partners
  explains our point of view in detail and is the
  basis for further activities on REACH

5
The engagement of the social partners

• Benefits in health and safety and reduction of
  occupational diseases could be difficult to be
  achieved only through REACH
• Chemical industry fortunately has a lower record
  of occupational diseases then other industries
• This needs to be further studied to identify good
  practices in chemical industry

6
Share good practices

• Further initiatives are needed we believe that
  initiaves of the social partners could contribute
  better then additional legislation
• Overview on good practices in chemical industry
  could support social partners in downstream-user
  industries

7
Further initiatives

• Information for and together with the social
  partners in the new EU-countries and the
  candidate countries could be a good step to
  improve understanding of REACH in these countries
  as well.