According to British Coatings Federation chief executive Moira McMillan, the amendments passed by the European Parliament environment committee are a "reversal of common sense".

McMillan, along with other industry leaders, called upon the European Parl-iament to reverse the changes, which were proposed last week to the EU's Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH) proposals.

Liberal, green and socialist MEPs teamed up to impose additional controls on chemicals that are produced in small quantities of between one to 10 tonnes, which would include many of those used in the manufacture of inks, pressroom consumables and coatings.

According to McMillan, without the change "it would have saved 17,000 substances from full regulatory testing.

 "We are now worried about product withdrawal," she said, citing estimates that potentially 20% of all chemicals now made in Europe might cease being produced  with some predictions saying this could rise to 30% for chemicals used in the coatings sector.

"Low-volume products are extremely vulnerable if they have to undergo tests that are used on bulk chemicals," said McMillan.

Another key disappointment in the committee vote was its approval of an amendment saying metals and chemicals already deemed carcinogenic, mutagenic, repro-toxic, and persistently toxic in the aquatic environment should only be approved for five years and then be subject to further testing, taking into account technical progress and new scientific knowledge.

"This puts us back into the area of insecurity for users," said McMillan. "Something might not be approved in five years' time.
"There's a high likelihood that customers might not get a coating if the time period is not sufficient for a company to get a changed product up to specification."

The BCF fears that the proposed changes might push buyers into sourcing products from non-EU countries that are not subject to the REACH controls.