European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC)

Nominated for being an effective ‘Crooked Enemy oF Informed Consumers’

The EU’s REACH proposal for improving regulation of chemicals sparked the largest ever industry lobbying campaign. Currently, most chemicals are introduced into the EU without safety guarantees, and without passing environmental or health tests. The chemical industry council, CEFIC, led the fight against REACH. German chemicals giant BASF played a key role by spurring a more radical and aggressive approach from 2002 onwards. They employed scare mongering tactics claiming that REACH would seriously undermine European competitiveness and conducted mis-information campaigns with flawed impact studies. They even marshalled political support from the Bush administration to back CEFIC’s scandalous campaign. Their success caused the European Commission to severely water down its own proposal. In its present form, REACH will not protect human health and the environment.

Vote for CEFIC and applaud old fashioned industry bullying.

Links to more information

• Bulldozing REACH – the Industry offensive to crush EU chemicals legislation, Corporate Europe Observatory, March 2005
• Profits before Health and Environment – how the chemical industry is undermining European Chemical Legislation, Friends of the Earth Europe, November 2005

Voters said about this nominee:

leurs actions vont à l’encontre de la santé des gens (salariés et clients/consommateurs)

because they human health and future of mankind due to commercial interests by fighting REACH

For the arrogance of thinking their right to pollute without restraint is greater than our right to a healthy future and environment.

For what they did against REACH !

because of their disdain of human health concerns and because they succeeded to make believe REACH would harm mainly SMEs whereas they were defending big business interests

they are horrible. i remember the action against CEFIC in brussels (4 years ago now)

I can’t stand them!

sinister counter revolutionary programs

Human health is beyond debate and discussion. They’re killing their children too.

The greatest threat for humankind

Because they have ruined an effort to make health and environment safer

For trying to water down REACH, which is needed to protect the safety of consumers

CEFIC is fiercely trying to undermine a very important proposed regulation on chemicals.

Due to its ruthless principle of profit before humans

REACH, pushing for Sectoral NAMA negotiations in WTO

obstruction of REACH

for their strong anti-REACH lobby

car REACH est un 1er bon projet pour proteger les populations/ Because REACH it’s a first good projet to protec the population

i like it

because chemicals are probably dangerous and reach was the least the big companies could have done for us to ensure it was harmless