Czech Republic President Vetoes REACH Legislation

The President of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Klaus, has refused to sign off on legislation adopted by the Parliament to implement REACH at the national level. The President sent a letter to the Parliament describing REACH as "conceptually wrong" and the planned national implementation legislation as "even worse." Klaus also expressed concern about the lack of debate on the law as it was agreed by Parliament.

The country's Environment Ministry, working with its Chemical Competent Authority, had adapted its existing Chemical Act so that REACH could be implemented at the national level. This includes elements covering enforcement, sanctions and classification and labeling.

Klaus has argued that the existing national controls were adequate and he questioned the need for a new pan-European, centralized chemical policy. The Parliament has the power to override the Presidential veto. (Source: FMA, FEMA)

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