Written question asked by Graham Stringer (Labour) on Monday, 5 March 2012, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 8 March 2012. It was answered by Mark Prisk (Conservative) on Thursday, 8 March 2012 on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Chemicals

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will make an assessment of the effect on metal finishing businesses in the UK of hexavalent chromium and cobalt salts becoming authorised substances under the Regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals.

Answer: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is working closely with industry, industry bodies and with the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Health and Safety Executive to understand the economic impact to business from the implementation of Regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), including from the identification of hexavalent chromium and cobalt salts as Substances of Very High Concern and their future management under REACH regulations.UK stakeholder views inform our ongoing engagement with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and the European Commission. ECHA, which made the recommendation to the European Commission, have themselves consulted publicly on their plans and the views of industries likely to be affected are taken into account when implementing REACH.BIS continues to engage directly in an active dialogue with stakeholders in the UK so that potentially harmful substances, through the authorisation process, can continue to be used safely while alternatives are found—fostering innovation and promoting substitution to safer alternatives.

Secondary information