Cement set to be hit by EU chemicals directive

Contractors and cement producers could be the first to be hit by an EU chemicals overhaul, after a government report was published last week.
The Science and Technology Committee recommended that cement should be included in the EU chemicals policy reform - known as Reach.
Martin Casey, the British Cement Association's (BCA) head of external affairs, believes legislation will hit cement users and producers first, as Reach will classify chemicals by volumes used rather than potential risks.
"Because we produce huge amounts, we're likely to be in the first tranche of people who are made to meet the requirements," Casey said.
Casey added that he believed high-risk chemicals should be the first under scrutiny.
Richard Boarder, Castle Cement's general manager for energy, said the industry was aware of the potential hazards. "The product's been around for 100 years, the hazards are well known, and every effort should be made to minimise contact with it - we don't need a directive to tell us that."
The Construction Products Association's head of environment and industry performance, Rita Singh, said the recommendations could see contractors filling in data sheets for applications not recommended by cement manufacturers.
Casey said that the BCA recommended one registration for all cement on an EU-wide basis. This would limit bureaucracy within the system, he added.
"The government has said it would include cement all the way through our negotiations. What's important is that we support the government's position on one substance, one regulation."
Boarder agreed, and added that the company did not want to foot the bill for extra testing involved in the legislation. "For the moment we want to avert these costs - it's a burden we can do without."
Casey said the association was concerned that legislation could give overseas cement producers an unfair advantage. "We support a stronger EU chemicals agency, which will implement Reach across the EU and ensure a level playing field."
However, Casey said the BCA was still unclear as to when Reach legislation would come into effect. "There's an awful long way to go before we know what the final shape of the Reach proposals will be," he said.
The Science and Technology Committee also recommended that recycled materials, that have already been through the legislation should be exempt from Reach's legislation.