The fees and charges, which will apply with the start of registrations of chemical substances on 1 June this year, range from €1600 (£1,282) for substances produced in volumes below 10 tonnes, to €31,000 for those above 1,000 tonnes.

The commission is offering a helping hand to smaller businesses, with discounts of up to 90% being offered for what it classes as micro-enterprises.

In addition, reductions of 60% are available to small-sized companies and 30% for medium-sized firms.

A 25% discount is available for companies that cooperate together on registrations.

Commission vice-president Günter Verheugen, responsible for enterprise and industry policy, said: "With significant reductions of 90% for smaller companies in the chemical sector we ensure that they continue to be competitive."

He added: "We have set the foundations for a modern registration scheme which protects human health and the environment. Therefore it is time to seize the new business opportunities offered by REACH."

REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemical substances) requires that all substances manufactured or imported in the EU in quantities above one tonne per year be registered as from 1 June 2008.