REACH threat to Belgian chemicals
15 Mar 2004
The Belgian chemical industry could lose up to 30% of its products as a result of the European Union's proposed Registration, Evaluation and Assessment of Chemicals (REACH) regime, according to a study by the national industry association, Fedichem.
The costs of testing associated with REACH would amount to 140million - 185million Euros, the study claims.
Belgium's chemical industry is among the largest in Europe in comparison to its population, and most of its producers are small to medium sized. These companies are likely to suffer worst from the costs, says Fedichem - one company involved in the study says it will have to triple its prices to meet the cost of testing.
Fedichem, along with the European Chemical Industry Council, CEFIC, claims that these costs are likely to drive chemical production away from the EU.
