We have an opportunity that has never before been available …. That is to give our input (over the next 2 days) on a proposed law in the European Union that will have an impact around the world on how companies manufacture their products and most especially on human health and on the health of future generations.  In 20 years, you will be able to tell your children & grandchildren, your nieces and nephews, and/or your friends’ children & grandchildren that you did do something about it!!

The European Union has boldly proposed a regulatory system called REACH.  The initials stand for Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals.  It will require any company that manufactures or imports more than one metric ton of a chemical in the European Union to Register by presenting basic data on the hazards of the chemical and its likely uses.  The 15 (soon to be 28) countries of the European Union will then Evaluate the data presented.  Chemicals that fail to meet basic safety standards would be considered of “very high concern”, triggering the Authorization process.  Use of these chemicals would be Restricted unless specifically authorized. 

The European Commission has invited public comment on this drafted legislation from all people around the world, an unprecedented opportunity to have a say on other countries' policies, which will ultimately have a significant impact on how U.S. corporations manufacture their products and what chemicals they use & don’t use.  By the way, all levels and agencies of the U.S. Government have made it known that they are opposing this legislation, but that’s no surprise given their close ties with U.S. corporations who are anxious to do more business in the European countries at any cost …. all the more reason to submit your personal comment if you are for this policy and reject the US Government’s opposition (remember to let the EU know that you reject your government’s position!)

Here are the 6 easy steps to filling in the form for public comment on the European Commission's website.  They are taking responses up until this Thursday, July 10

(Print out these 6 steps to make it clear and easy …. It should take about 15-20 minutes to get oriented to the information and to fill in the form if you are just typing in a few lines of comments)

For a good quick summary with questions and answers on REACH, go to this website (and print it out): 

      http://www.worldwildlife.org/toxics/whatsnew/reach_qa.htm  

And for recommended amendments to the policy, you can cut and paste them from this website:             
                                                                      www.chemicalreaction.org              
but don’t fill out their form because they have already submitted people’s names and responses to the European Commission
 

Ok, Here are the Steps to Submitting Your Comments:

Step 1:    Click on this website link to the European Commission: 

                   http://europa.eu.int/yourvoice/forms/dispatch.jsp?form=253&lang=EN  
 

Step 2:    Begin Filling in the Form at the bottom of page with your name & address

               NOTE:  The first several paragraphs are written with some technical details 
               directed primarily to companies and to organizations who want to be specific 
               about their revisions to this policy, ..........
               Don’t Let That Discourage You From Letting Your Opinion Be Heard !!  
               You don’t have to know all of the technicalities, and you don’t have to know
               each volume or category of the legislation to let the EU know that you support 
               this policy!! 

   Under “Country”, the U.S. is not listed as one of the options, so use “Other”

Step 3:   Under “Telephone Number” …Our U.S. international country calling code is 001
              when calling from Brussels, Belgium to the U.S.  The EU Office is in Brussels.

               Example:    001-410-555-1212 

Step 4:     Under the “Confidentiality Section”, if you say ‘yes’, then they will post your 
                response on their website for public access along with everyone else’s who 
                agreed to have it published

Step 5:    Under the “Comments Section”:

               Each Category of the Proposed Legislation that you click on will then open up
               a box for you to comment on about that category, .. but first it will open up
               another box of categories to chose from........

               Follow these simple steps if you just want to make a brief (up to 1-page)
               comment: 
                              ·         I would suggest selecting “Registration Procedures” only
                              ·         wait for the next box to open and then select “Other"
                              ·         wait for 2 empty boxes to open and then fill in your comments 
                                    about the REACH policy in the first box only
                                    (the second empty box for comments is only for very specific
                                     changes to the legal text of the proposed policy) 

Step 6:    Click “Submit” … and you’re done!!

Feel free to call or email me with questions.  .... And please forward this email to others!!

For those of you who fill out this form, I’m glad that you joined me in submitting comment on this important policy!!  For those of you who don’t have time to do it by Thursday, there will be other opportunities for you to be heard on these and other issues! 

I look forward to talking with you again soon! 

Sincerely,
Louise

Louise Mitchell
Phone  (410) 426-4213
Fax  (410) 426-7745
mitchelllouise2@...