The aim of the project will be to help prepare the chemical industry for the legislation, predicted to come into force within the next two to three years, that is expected to increase the amount of safety testing required on chemicals. REACH stands for the registration, evaluation and authorisation of chemicals.
Part of the initiative involves the setting up of a centre that will offer a range of services including advice on the new procedures, consortium facilitation, data management, chemical safety reporting as well as coordinating independent verifiers, research and test services.
It will also provide direct assistance to supply chain information exchange, building on the CIA's existing trade association activity; and help in building a more comprehensive knowledge base of chemicals currently marketed in the UK.
LGC and the CIA said they would start consultation process in the UK and around the rest of the EU to ensure that the centre meets the needs of a wide range of users.
They intend to complete their consultations by late 2004 and will ensure that the Centre develops in a way that is compatible with regulatory requirements and with other industry initiatives that may develop elsewhere in the EU.
LGC and the CIA also plan to hold workshops during the remainder of 2004 to exchange ideas on support mechanisms and to develop the concept of a UK 'Reach Centre' with representatives from supply and user industries, service and retail sectors, and trade associations.
The CIA's director general, Judith Hackitt said: "REACH is the single most important regulatory issue facing chemical supply and user industries today and its implementation will need to be handled well."
Just last week, the European Parliament presented the findings of a commissioned report which suggested that the costs of implementing REACH could have damaging consequences on not only the European chemicals industry but also Europe as a whole.
The report, by the German division of Arthur D Little, claims that REACH will lead to a 2.9 per cent loss in GDP in Germany, and a 24.7 per cent loss in production.