Ritianne Schembri, FOI-MSA Chemicals Policy Working Group member, attended a TAIEX conference on the new EU Chemicals Policy often referred to as "REACH" (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restrictions of Chemicals). This conference, which was entitled "REACH - How to deal in a new member state", was held in Ljubljana, Slovania on June 2 and 3 and invited the new EU member states and the next round of candidate countries (i.e. Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey) to nominate three participants from the national authority responsible for chemicals, the relevant inspectorate, and from industry.

In addition to Ms Schembri, the Malta delegation was made up of Tristan Camilleri and Ingrid Borg both from the Malta Standards Authority (MSA). Ing. Martin Seychell, head of the Foodstuffs, Chemicals and Cosmetics Directorate of the MSA, was also invited as guest speaker at this conference and presented a paper, which was entitled "Costs and benefits of REACH: concerns, risks and chances".

The aim of the conference was to raise awareness on the basic and detailed requirements of REACH. Benefits of and obstacles for introduction of the foreseen changes were also discussed and possible solutions sought.

Later in June, Ms Schembri again represented the FOI at a workshop entitled "The relation between Chemicals Legislation and Worker Protection Legislation - Present and Future under REACH".

This seminar was held on June 14 and 15 at the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in London, UK, and was organised by the Employment and Social Affairs DG of the European Commission.

This workshop was held to clarify the relationship between chemicals legislation and worker protection legislation, to discuss openings for improved efficiency in present work and to start bridging to a new chemicals legislation. At this workshop, Malta was also represented by Cedric Camilleri from the Occupational Health and Safety Authority.