Benefits of the new EU chemicals policy, REACH, assessed by DHI

At the request of the environment directorate of the European Commission, DHI has prepared an assessment study on the new EU chemicals policy (REACH), entitled

The impact of REACH on the environment and human health.

The main aim of this study is to assess the impact on the environment and humans exposed via the environment (i.e. excluding direct consumer exposure and occupational exposure) as a result of releases of chemicals and to assess the possible long-term benefits of REACH in reducing such potential chemical threats. Based on the most robust of three approaches and an assumption that the potential benefit of REACH will be 10% of total costs, the study concludes that REACH would save a minimum of €150-500 million per year by the year 2017, at the expected close of the 11-year roll-out period of REACH. The potential long term benefit over the succeeding 25 years would be €2,800-9,000 million.