Ahead of a key vote at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on restricting dangerous chemicals, SNP MEPs Ian Hudghton and Alyn Smith indicated that they are prepared to reject the rules for not going far enough.

Instead they are calling on MEPs to back an alternative set of stricter proposals to ban dangerous chemicals in industry when Parliament votes on the matter this week (Wednesday).

The package of EU Chemicals Regulations (known as REACH) is set to become law following a deal struck between the Conservative and Socialist groups of MEPs, but rejected by others including the SNP. The SNP had wanted rules to outlaw the use of dangerous chemicals in industry when safer alternatives exist, but this has now been watered down.

Speaking ahead of the vote, Ian Hudghton MEP said:

"This is a significant piece of environmental legislation that many of us hoped would have gone further in terms of restricting the use of dangerous chemicals.

"It's in the interests of businesses and consumers to eradicate dangerous chemicals from the environment and that's why we'll be backing strong restrictions on hazardous substances.

"Where safer alternatives exist with negligible cost implications, these should be substituted for more dangerous chemicals being used in manufacturing."



Note

MEPs will vote at second reading on the REACH draft regulation on chemical products on Wednesday 13 December at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. The SNP is backing a series of amendments that would require the substitution of toxic chemicals with safer alternatives where such alternatives exist. An EU Chemicals Agency would be set up to oversee implementation of the legislation.