This news article was originally written in Spanish. It has been automatically translated for your convenience. Reasonable efforts have been made to provide an accurate translation, however, no automated translation is perfect nor is it intended to replace a human translator. The original article in Spanish can be viewed at Montilla pide que la reforma del sector químico no incremente los costes para las Pymes
Montilla requests that the reform of the chemical sector does not increase the costs for SMEs
15/12/2004
on December 15, 2004
The Minister of industry, trade and tourism, José Montilla, requested that the new system of registration of chemicals to prepare the European Union - known as "Reach" - does not increase the costs for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which are the majority in the Spanish industry. Montilla was thus opposed to the initiative of Germany, Sweden, Denmark and Finland, which have been requested to increase the number of trials required for chemical substances with a production of between one and ten tonnes.
In the debate on "Reach" which was held at the meeting of Ministers of industry of the European Union, the Spanish representative claimed that the extra costs which would add more tests for these products, which according to their data would be "double" in the initial proposal of the European Commission takes into account. "Moreover, the majority of the companies that manufacture these substances are SMEs and unique producers, which would have even the possibility or the advantage of partnering to share data", stated the Minister of industry.
That is why he advocated maintain 13 the number of tests required for all substances, as reflected in the plans of the EU Executive, and consider a possible increase, if necessary, when the text is reviewed within seven years.
Finally, the Minister of industry defended the implementation underway of a campaign of information and communication to facilitate to SMEs "knowledge and understanding of the obligations that will have to assume after the entry into force of the regulation".
