Hearing Signals Changes May Be Ahead for Reach Testing Protocols.

Discusses the public hearing held by the European Parliament regarding the Registration, Authorisation and Evaluation of Chemicals (Reach) program proposed by the European Commission in January 2005. Role of environment commissioner Stavros Dimas on the Reach program; Number of chemicals that will undergo testing to assess adverse impacts on human health and the environment; Opinion of environmental groups on the public health benefits of testing; Views of European employers' federation Unice on the requirements of the program.