New draft legislation in the pipeline for member countries of the European Union protecting human health from some chemicals might possibly harm Namibia’s mining sector. The parliamentary standing committee heard testimony this week from officials of the ministry of mines and energy and the Chamber of Mines about the draft EU law called Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH). While REACH is targeting inorganic chemicals which could harm humans and are to be barred from import above 1 tonne per annum. Namibia exports blister copper, refined zinc, lead and fluorspar, which contain hazardous chemicals like arsenic trioxide, acid and lead. If such exports to the EU need to be registered and authorised, it would severely affect Namibia’s mining sector, officials said. Sub-Saharan Africa exports about 50% of its mineral production to the EU. Namibia is part of the Mining Industry Association of Southern Africa (MIASA), which together with the RSA Chamber of Mines will lobby the EU to amend the REACH draft.