REACH revision delayed: no all-clear just yet

Frankfurt, 20/11/2022

The timetable in the European Commission’s work programme for 2023, according to which the REACH revision will not start at the end of 2022 as previously indicated, is welcomed as an important step in the right direction. The companies represented by TEGEWA – many of which are small and medium-sized enterprises – are heavily affected by the REACH revision and see parts of the currently circulating proposals as existential threats. In addition, as part of an energy intensive sector, TEGEWA member companies are massively experiencing the implications of the current economic and political crisis. Therefore, the original – very tight and ambitious – timetable was considered unsuitable by the industry.                                                 

The work programme mentions a “targeted revision”, instead of the fully comprehensive reform originally envisaged, and indicates the revision for the fourth quarter of 2023. Even though the rescheduling of a few months can only be seen as a small step: with less time pressure and, associated with this, more diligence in drafting, we see the chance that the revision of the REACH Regulation will be approached with a sense of proportion and reason. The EU-REACH legislation in its current form continues to set the strictest global requirements and represents the highest standard for chemical safety worldwide. With its risk-based approach, the regulation is science-based and fact-driven, while providing maximum level of consumer, occupational and environmental protection. On behalf of its members, TEGEWA hopes for a targeted and evidence-based revision – to support the future viability of our and many other industries in Germany and Europe.

First General Assembly of new European Association EUCTL

(Frankfurt, 16-11-2021)

On February 10th, 2021, the first General Assembly of the European Association EUCTL (European Chemistry for Textile and Leather) was held – due to the pandemic situation in form of a virtual conference. EUCTL had been founded in 2020 by TEGEWA and the Italian Chemical Industry Association Federchimica and shall help to achieve better – and earlier – involvement in European legislation processes.

This first General Assembly also comprised the election of Board and Chair Persons. Due to restructuring processes in the membership, the board was forced to make use of its right on cooptation and to determine Dr. Wolfgang Schumann, Rudolf, as successor to the first elected president, Ralf Kattanek. Dr. Filippo Pampagnin, Bozzetto, holds the position as Vice President. Further Board members are :

Roberto Ghioldi,  E.R.C.A. S.P.A.
Dr. Giuseppe Li Bassi,  Lamberti S.P.A.
Dr. Benoit Moutault, CHT Germany GmbH
Marc Smit,  Smit & Zoon B.V.

The European Commission’s Chemicals Strategy even outshines REACH

Frankfurt, October 15, 2020

On October 14^th, the EU Commission published its “Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability Towards a Toxic-Free Environment”. This strategy – which is meant to be implemented within the next four years, according to the Commission’s intentions – is posing extremely ambitious challenges to chemical industry. Whereas the strategy seems to be at least unrealistic in view of the temporal context, the content-related requirements are even more than ambitious. The member companies of TEGEWA and the management staff of the association itself consider the challenges as bigger than those of the European Chemicals legislation REACH, which came into force in 2007.

The protection of both the environment and human health is a self-evident goal of the association TEGEWA and its member companies. REACH, which is being implemented with all our strength right from the start, is offering all kind of possibilities to identify and regulate harmful or “problematic” substances. How far a „chemicals strategy for sustainability“ with focus on „a toxic-free environment“ can offer a certain added value, is not visible to the association TEGEWA at this point of time.

In close cooperation with the umbrella organisation VCI, the European associations as well as the respective industrial customer’s associations, TEGEWA will accompany the strategy process on all levels and raise the voice of its member companies.