Minister Sherlock urges Irish industry to take advantage of opportunities under EU chemicals legislation
March 20th 2013
The Health and Safety Authority today (March 20th) hosted a conference in Dublin on REACH, the EU Chemicals Regulation aimed at protecting human health and the environment from the effects of chemicals.
Opening the conference, Minister Sean Sherlock TD, Minister for Research and Innovation, said, “In implementing the REACH legislation I’m pleased to see that progress is being made in achieving a balance between protection and competitiveness in Ireland and across Europe. Ireland has been playing an important role in ensuring that industry competitiveness and innovation underpins the key protection role that must be fulfilled under the REACH legislation."
"Our pharma-chem and high tech sectors are committed to regulatory compliance with REACH. Given their importance to the Irish economy, every effort should be given to support them, as well as SMEs, to not only comply with but also exploit the competitive and innovation opportunities that REACH provides.”
The conference, entitled REACH-ing a balance between protection and competitiveness in Europe, featured speakers from the European Commission, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), Member State Authorities (Denmark, Germany, UK, Sweden) as well as environmental and worker organisations and representatives from the Irish Pharmaceutical and High Tech sectors.
Mr Geert Dancet, Executive Director of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), highlighted how ECHA has and will continue to work and collaborate with all stakeholders. “Reaching the balance between protection and competitiveness cannot be achieved in isolation or in the short term which is why in its forthcoming multiannual strategic plan ECHA envisions further strengthening the active engagement of authorities and stakeholders in its activities.”
Martin O’Halloran, Chief Executive of the Health and Safety Authority, said, “At the Health and Safety Authority we are committed to implementing the REACH legislation in a way that not only protects health and the environment but also maximises industry competitiveness and enhances innovation and the opportunities that go with that. I would urge all businesses to ensure they are aware of and fulfil their obligations in relation to the management of chemicals and be positioned to take advantage of the opportunities that will emerge as a result.”
At today’s conference the European Commission also outlined details of the outcomes of the REACH review and their 2020 Roadmap on Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) which details the way forward to achieving the objective of having all currently known SVHCs identified and included in the candidate list by 2020. The Commission further emphasised the importance of close co-operation and collaboration between the Member States, ECHA and the Commission in order to meet the 2020 commitment. Key stakeholders representing industry, workers and the environment reaffirmed their support for REACH and stressed the importance of close collaboration in the continued implementation of the legislation.
