SINGAPORE: SPRING Singapore is teaming up with the Singapore Chemicals Industry Council (SCIC) to help local exporters compete better in the global market.

The tie-up, which will help Singapore exporters conform with new international regulations and standards, was announced Monday by Minister of State for Trade and Industry S Iswaran at the opening of Quality and Standards 2007.

The new European chemicals regulation REACH (Registration, Evaluation Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) was introduced in June, and is expected to affect some 500 Singapore companies in the chemical manufacturing and related industries.

"REACH will also affect non-chemical companies that use chemicals in their manufacturing processes. An example is the electronics industry. In 2006, Singapore exported some S$23 billion worth of electronic products to the EU, accounting for almost half of our total exports to Europe," said Mr S Iswaran.

"So the amounts at stake are material and significant. And it is critical that Singaporean enterprises affected by technical regulations, such as REACH, be given the appropriate assistance to meet standards and technical requirements," he added.

SPRING Singapore and the SCIC will assess the impact of standards and technical regulations such as REACH on Singapore businesses, work together to raise awareness of the standards and regulations and prepare enterprises to comply with such regulations.

They will also take part in standards development to keep abreast with the latest developments. - CNA/ac