The newly elected European Commission (EC) is prepared to tone down its predecessor's proposed Reach chemicals legislation. The change of heart emerged during a public hearing in Brussels, organised by the European Parliament. During the meeting, EC officials acknowledged concerns about the impact of Reach on industry competitiveness and indicated a willingness to accept changes to its draft in the European Parliament. The EC now accepts the need to revise the Directive, according to Walter Claes of EuPC, the umbrella body for European plastics converters associations. "Reach will be changed. The hope is that the changes will go in the right direction," said Claes, who was among the 1,000 participants at the meeting. EuPC has consistently voiced its concerns that Reach would force its members into costly reformulation and re-testing of finished items, as chemicals suppliers withdrew products because of the cost of registration.
