BRUSSELS, Dec. 13 (Xinhuanet) -- Ministers from the 25 European Union (EU) member states have agreed on a controversial new law designed to protect the public from toxic chemicals.

    Under the law on registration, evaluation and authorization of chemicals, known as REACH, European chemicals producers and importers will be responsible for making sure the chemicals they produce or import are safe.

    They will have to pay for the assessment and registration of any of some 30,000 chemical products covered by the law.

    A new European Chemicals Agency will be established in Helsinki, Finland, to manage the registration of substances by setting up a database.

    Substances produced in quantities above 10 tons per year must be tested for safety and the limit for particularly hazardous, cancerous and toxic chemicals is set at one ton per year. The registration process should be completed in 11 years.

    While adopting the new rules, ministers rejected a proposal to force companies to substitute dangerous chemicals with safer alternatives.

    The law is expected to be formally approved by EU member states in May 2006, before it goes to the European Parliament for a second reading.

    The draft chemicals legislation has long been at the center of bitter political debate as environmental, industry and national concerns have fought to either water down or strengthen the legislation's effects.

    The chemicals industry has opposed the plan on cost and competitiveness grounds, while green groups believe the proposal do not go far enough in protecting human health.

    Commission vice-president and EU industry chief Gunter Verheugen said the agreement was a "reasonable compromise."

    "We have succeeded in making REACH more effective and more workable," said Verheugen. "And we have succeeded in maintaining the competitiveness of EU industry and -- a crucial point -- reducing the burden for small and medium-sized companies."

    Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said Tuesday's agreement"will represent a marked improvement in the protection of health and the environment."

    "It will reduce chemicals-related disease and will allow users and consumers to make informed choices about the substances they come in contact with," he said.

    "It will also encourage innovation and give a strong incentive to industry to replace dangerous chemicals with safer ones," the commissioner added. Enditem