Sectoral level. The project developed by Euratex (European textile employers) and its union counterpart, the European Trade Union Federation Textiles, Clothing and Leather (FSE THC), is going to spread over one year. It will contain three chapters: one for research, carried out with an environmental institute in Cardiff; one of surveys among businesses; and one for evaluation. “For the moment, we can’t evaluate businesses’ concrete needs in this area” explained Euratex’s Adil El Massi. Adopted earlier this month, the project will help inform and train businesses on the subject. The REACH regulation, adopted by the EU in late 2006, aims to make a list, over the next decade, of the chemicals used, produced or imported in Europe at the rate of more than one ton a year. What’s new is that businesses have the heavy obligation to evaluate the dangerousness of their products and, where appropriate, find a substitute. Even though the burden mostly falls on the chemical industry, it also affects businesses which use these products, such as textile. The social partners’ project is precisely aimed to protect the health and safety of workers handling chemicals by encouraging their proper registration and by remaining competitive. Businesses can incur heavy fines.
and, where appropriate, find a substitute. Even though the burden mostly falls on the chemical industry, it also affects businesses which use these products, such as textile. The social partners’ project is precisely aimed to protect the health and safety of workers handling chemicals by encouraging their proper registration and by remaining competitive.
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