ECHA office draws chemical industry lobbyists to Finland and Helsinki

Helsinki is rapidly becoming a target of interest to large international chemical companies. Essential players in the chemical field are currently setting up their lobbying bureaux in the Finnish capital or have at least sent their representatives here to scope things out.
      This is the estimate of Kristiina Helenius, managing director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Finland.
      “Faith in the idea that one can influence things here is attracting new international operators to Finland. There is plenty of interest. Various firms have contacted us”, Helenius says.
     
The European Chemicals Agency ECHA formally opened its doors in Helsinki yesterday.
      The purpose of the agency is to provide technical and scientific support in the implementation of the so-called REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and restriction processes for CHemical substances) regulations framework adopted by the European Union in 2006.
      In recent years REACH has become the focal point of the lawyers and lobbyists in the chemicals field.
      “First the centre of attention was Brussels. Now everyone’s eyes are on Helsinki”, Helenius continues.
      According to Helenius, the migration of lobbyists into the Finnish capital will take place in the next six months.
     
ECHA will eventually give work to around 500 people. It is one of the largest separate agencies within the European Union. ECHA’s annual budget peaks in the region of EUR 80 million.
      The purpose of REACH is to improve the protection of health and the environment and to support the competitiveness of the chemical industry within the EU.
      Among other things, the agency takes care of the registration of more than 30,000 chemical substances used in various industries.
     
The agency is located in the former Insurance Company Varma premises on Annankatu in central Helsinki. The establishment will expand as more people get hired.
      The President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso  was in Helsinki on Tuesday for the formal opening ceremony.
      Finland had fervently sought to get the European Food Safety Authority in Helsinki, but after much toing and froing and the intervention of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, that plum went to Parma instead.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Chinese chemical industry to open office in Helsinki (17.9.2007)
  Legislation passed, EU Chemical Agency to come to Helsinki (14.12.2006)
  European Union Chemicals Agency to be set up in centre of Helsinki (23.2.2006)
  EU Chemicals Authority both a joy and a disappointment (15.12.2003)

Links:
  ECHA website
  EU press release