Companies seeking to produce or import hazardous chemicals in the European Union will have to use safer alternative substances when available under rules expected to be endorsed by EU lawmakers today.
Substituting safe chemicals for more dangerous ones is the most divisive issue between industry and environmentalists in a draft law called REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals), which faces a vote in the European Parliament's environment committee.
The Bill was designed to protect the public from the adverse effects of chemicals found in a wide range of products such as paint, detergents, cars and computers.
Chemical makers would have to register the properties of substances in a central EU database. Those of highest concern, such as carcinogens, would require authorisation to be used.
The authorisation process has become the chief point of contention as the bill nears the end of the EU's long legislative process.
Guido Sacconi, the parliament member chiefly responsible for steering the bill, proposed an amendment that would deny approval for dangerous chemicals if suitable alternatives exists.
Companies seeking authorisation would also have to prove the social and economic advantages of a hazardous chemical "outweigh the risks to human health or the environment which arise from the substance", according to the text of the amendment.
His proposals are expected to be endorsed by the committee, although that does not guarantee backing from the full parliament, which votes next, a parliament official said. Business group UNICE urged lawmakers to ease the tougher rules to avoid chemicals being taken off the market.
"The European Parliament's opinion on authorisation and substitution of chemicals of high concern... is still seen as highly problematic to European companies," UNICE said in a letter to committee members.
"It could lead to a complete ban of certain substances even though there is a clear socio-economic benefit and no alternative available."
The group urged lawmakers to follow the position of EU governments, which would authorise dangerous chemicals if companies prove they can be adequately controlled.
But environmental group WWF urged lawmakers to push for safer substances.
"If there is a safer available alternative, there is no reason to allow the continued use of chemicals that we know to be carcinogenic or toxic to reproduction," said WWF programme officer Justin Wilkes.
He said the principle of substitution would apply only to roughly 1,500 chemicals deemed to be of high concern for which industry would need authorisation.
After the environment committee vote, Mr Sacconi will seek a compromise with representatives of EU member states before bringing the bill before the full parliament for a vote.
Both parliament and EU member states will have to approve REACH before it can become law.