We are exposed to chemicals in every aspect of daily life: in products like paints, cosmetics, and cleaning materials and in articles like cars, computers, furniture and clothes. Many of these chemicals are hazardous and are polluting the our bodies and the environment. Yet current laws are failing to adequately control or restrict their use.

The European Union is currently overhauling its policy on chemicals to provide much greater protection for future generations. Draft legislation proposes a completely new system for Registering, Evaluating and Authorising Chemicals, known as REACH. But the proposal is already flawed - it omits certain key measures - and the chemicals industry and its allies are lobbying aggressively against tighter controls. More…

Lobby your Euro-candidates for safer chemicals use
Encourage your new MEPs to back strong reform of European law on chemicals. Let them know that you care about health and you don't want hazardous substances to contaminate our bodies!

Visit www.chemicalreaction.org to find out more about the 'REACH' proposals and what you can do. Also visit WEN's health and cosmetics pages to find out more.

Chemicals are of concern to everyone, EU Commissioner tells WEN
European Environment Commissioner praised groups like WEN for making people aware of how chemicals affect them, on her visit to London (14/10/03). More.

Protect health before industry profit
Women tell European Leaders WECF press release

The EU is considering plans for a new system to regulate use of chemicals. See our Chemicals Under the Spotlight factsheet (116k pdf), produced before draft legislation was published.