EU gets tough on issue of testing chemicals

LESS than 1% of Europe’s most-used chemicals are tested to see if they are safe for humans and for the environment.

Now the European Commission has launched a plan that will ensure these 30,000 chemicals are registered and tested before going on the market.

Launching the proposals for the radical new chemicals regulation system in Brussels yesterday, Commissioner Margot Wallstroem said it was time to stop the testing of chemicals on unsuspecting humans.