Implications of REACH for Developing Countries

The new European Union (EU) chemicals regulation, the Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals, or REACH, went into effect in 2007. In the extensive advance discussion of the expected impacts of REACH, questions were raised about the effects of this new chemical policy on developing countries. In particular, will it harm the economies of the group of African, Caribbean and Pacifi c (ACP) countries that historically have been connected to Europe? We found, in brief, that there are only limited, isolated cases where REACH could be problematical for ACP exporters. Almost all ACP exports subject to REACH face insignifi cant obstacles from the new regulation. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. Received 15 December 2006; revised 17 July 2007; accepted 17 August 2007