Debate on the EC's chemicals strategy bubbles on

The European Commission's White Paper on chemicals has provoked sharply polarised reactions. Since its publication in February, Sweden and the Netherlands have announced domestic policy initiatives which will be influential in the EC debate. The UK has chipped in with a study which concludes that the Commission's plans on chemicals testing are beyond the capacity of Europe's laboratories - while environmental groups have joined animal welfare organisations in arguing for a strategy less dependent on animal tests. Meanwhile, downstream sectors of the chemical industry are worried about the White Paper's cost implications and damage to their raw materials base.