To all UK Citizens

REACH (a system of Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of
CHemicals) is the new European Chemical Testing Policy. It is the
World’s biggest ever animal testing programme and was launched in June
2007. It will require the Registration of all chemicals used in
quantities greater than 1 tonne a year that were put on the market
prior to 1981 (around 30,000 over the next 11 years) and all new
substances introduced after this date.

REACH and the Environment:

Most of the chemicals we use end up in the environment and ultimately
are absorbed into our food. REACH is an opportunity to safeguard our
environment and protect our health from the most Toxic chemicals.
Concerning the 30,000 chemicals to be tested, the scientists have
little detailed knowledge about the possible dangers to our health. We
do know that toxic chemicals can interfere with reproductive and
immune systems, imitate hormones and cause cancer. Urgent is that
hazardous chemicals are not approved where safer alternatives exist.
Also that the methods used to test them are the most modern available
and can be trusted to give reliable results. Our environment must be
protected from the most dangerous substances. This must be an
important part of REACH and must be considered as such by the European
politicians.

REACH and Directive 86/609:

Directive 86/609 is the current European Legislation that covers the
protection of laboratory animals in experiments. It is now being
rewritten with its replacement expected in the near future. It is
expected and hoped it will control the use of animals in European
laboratories, set new standards for their housing and care and monitor
the training of scientists supervising the experiments. It should also
reduce the number of animals in experiments by forwarding the
introduction of alternative techniques.

Animal Testing and REACH:

In theory, Animal Testing should only be done when no better
alternative exists not because of a lack of desire to find superior
alternatives. A report entitled ‘The Way Forward: A Non-Animal Testing
Strategy for Chemicals’, published by the ECEAE and the BUAV,
demonstrates how chemicals could be tested to ensure they are safe
without using animals. The European Union has not adequately embraced
this strategy and REACH will require a massive number of animal
experiments.

Alternatives and REACH:

The European Commission has estimated that Reach will cost industry
between 2.8bn and 5.2bn euros over 11 years. Other estimates put the
figure as high as 12.8bn euros. This will be an expensive waste of
resources if reliance is on outdated animal testing instead of making
the most of new technological advances. Many alternatives exist which
are quicker, cheaper and more reliable than animal tests. However, for
these to be trusted and validated takes investment and a commitment to
make medical progress a priority. REACH must make sure that all
chemicals are tested with the most accurate and trustworthy methods
and new techniques must be developed if only animal testing is
available.

What can be done?

It is in all our interest to insist that the chemicals we use are
tested as thoroughly as possible with the latest technology available.
Concerned Europeans can contact their MEPs and urge them to support
all opportunities to invest in modern alternatives. This must be
urgent in the new European Chemical Testing Policy, REACH, and an
important part of the review of Directive 86/609.

For contact details of your MEPs visit
http://www.europarl.europa.eu

For further information on the above matters:-
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/reach/reach_intro.htm
http://www.curedisease.net/
http://www.eceae.org

Thank You

Tony Gal