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A Hybrid within a Hybrid: Contextualising REACH in the Process of European Integration and Constitutionalisation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Poul F. Kjaer
Poul F. Kjaer*
Affiliation:
Formation of Normative Orders, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main
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Abstract

REACH is a new European Community Regulation on chemicals and their safe use. This Regulation is a hybrid that combines hierarchy and heterarchy from a both a legal and an organisational perspective. Such hybridism is, however, not a feature that is particular to REACH. Rather the EU itself must be understood as a hybrid, thereby making REACH a hybrid operating within a hybrid. The hybrid structure of REACH reflects its societal function, which is to simultaneously separate and combine politics, science, economy, health and the environment within a single legal framework. The legitimacy of REACH reflects its hybrid structure in the sense that it is based on a combination of democratic, procedural and deliberative components.

Type
Articles
Information
European Journal of Risk Regulation , Volume 1 , Issue 4 , December 2010 , pp. 383 - 396
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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References

1 Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European EP and of the Council of 18 December 2006.

2 According to industry sources, the chemicals sector is one of the largest industries in the EU. It employs around 4 million people directly and indirectly. The EU chemicals industry has a global market share of 30 % making it the world leader. In 2005 the EC exported chemicals for €110 billion and imports were €72 billion, creating a trade surplus of €38 billion. The EC chemicals industry comprises around 27.000 companies but is dominated by a few multinational companies which produce some 70 % of output. In 2004 the main producers were Germany (25 % of EU total), France (16 % of EU total), Italy (12 % of EU total) and the UK (10 % of EU total) [Source: European Chemical Industry Council website <http://www.cefic.org>].

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4 Hence, the objective is not to evaluate whether the substantial mission of Reach is a meaningful enterprise, but merely to reflect on the possible value of its regulatory model within the wider context of the integration process.

5 Directive 67/548/EEC of the Council of 27 June 1967 on the approximation of laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances.

6 Directive 79/831/EEC of the Council of 18 September 1979 amending Directive 67/548/EEC of the Council of 27 June 1967 on the approximation of laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances.

7 Directive 92/32/EEC of the Council of 30 April 1992 amending Directive 67/548/EEC of the Council of 27 June 1967 on the approximation of laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances.

8 Directive 76/769/EEC of the Council of 27 July 1976 relating to restrictions on the marketing and use of certain dangerous substances and preparations.

9 Directive 88/379/EEC of the Council of 7 June 1988 relating to the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous preparations, revised by Directive 1999/45 EC of the European EP and the Council of 31 May 1999.

10 Regulation (EEC) No 793/1993 of the Council of 23 March 1993 on evaluation and control of risks of existing substances.

11 European Chemical Industry Council website <http://www.cefic.org>.

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13 More specifically, of the amended version of Directive 67/548/EEC of the Council of 27 June 1967 on the approximation of laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances, Directive 76/769/EEC of the Council of 27 July 1976 relating to restricions on the marketing and use of certain dangerous substances and preparations, Directive 88/379/EEC of the Council of 7 June 1988 relating to the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous preparations, revised by Directive 1999/45 EC of the European EP and the Council of 31 May 1999, Regulation (EEC) No 793/1993 of the Council 23 March 1993 on evaluation and control of the risks of existing substances.

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15 Commission Working Document SEC (1998) 1986 Final.

16 Commission White Paper “Strategy for a Future Chemicals Policy”, supra note 14.

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21 The letter is available on the Internet at <http://www.smallbusinessEurope.org/en/upload/File/Issues/REACH/Letter_to_Prodi_from_Blair_Chirac_Schroder.doc>.

22 Commission Proposal for a Regulation concerning Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), establishing the European Chemicals Agency and Amending Directive 1999/45/EC, COM(2003)644 of 29 October 2003. See also Meuwese, Impact Assessment in EU Lawmaking, supra note 12, p. 200.

23 The changes did not only take place because of resistance from the major MS and European industries but also because of fierce criticism from major trading partners, notably the United States.

24 World Trade Organization, notification G/TBT/N/EEC/52 of 21 January 2004. The EC response is available on the Internet at the European Commission, DG Enterprise website <http://ec.ECropa.EC/enterprise/reach/docs/reach/EC_wto_response_041028.pdf>.

25 The report is available on the Internet at <http://ec.ECropa.EC/enterprise/reach/docs/trial/sport_report_050704.pdf>.

26 European EP Legislative Resolutions P6_TA(2005)0434 and P6- TA(2005)0435 of 17 November 2005.

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28 Communication from the Commission to the European EP COM (2006) 375 final, p. 3.

29 Ibid.

30 Decision 1999/468/EC of the Council of 28 June 1999, Article 5a. Decision amended by Decision 2006/512/EC of the Council.

31 Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European EP and of the Council of 18 December 2006, preamble, recital 1.

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72 Ibid., at p. 69.

73 The Lisbon Treaty introduces a distinction between delegated and implementing acts and reduces the scope of Comitology to the latter. How this change will affect the Comitology system in the long term remains to be seen.