Ecologists and health campaigners have voiced fears that the new law, which must still be approved by EU governments, has been watered down and could leave serious threats to the environment and human health.

But the chemical industry has pushed hard against imposing too much extra red tape on business. There are no specific forecasts on how much the new rules will cost, but estimates say at least hundreds of millions of euros per year.

The Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH) system was approved by 407 votes in favour to 155 against at the 732-seat European Parliament in Strasbourg.

The new rules, which could be in place by early next year, would also clamp down on the use of animals to test new chemicals used in everything from soap powder to children's toys and pesticides to building materials.

"I would like to welcome positively this outcome," said Guido Sacconi, the EU assembly's rapporteur on the new rules, shortly before the vote was taken in the EU legislature.

Under the system, companies must register up to 30,000 chemicals and provide information on potential hazards.

But the chemicals industry has warned bluntly that jobs are on the line.

"We ... welcome the desire to produce an effective regulatory framework for the safe management of chemicals," said the European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC), which represents 27,000 companies in Europe, ahead of the vote.

"We believe, however, that some crucial workability issues remain to be solved before the system can work in practice and achieve its objectives."

Britain, which currently holds the EU's six-month rotating presidency, had hoped to secure a deal from EU governments by the end of November.

That attempt was put on hold after incoming German chancellor Angela Merkel's new government asked for a delay to allow the new government in Berlin to study the dossier.

The main political groups in the EU parliament agreed last week on a broad compromise, which was being discussed by EU lawmakers Tuesday ahead of a vote on Thursday.

But, in a sign of the emotions stirred up the by the issue, wrangling over the rules went down to the wire. A key compromise was struck Tuesday when it was agreed that small quantities of chemicals would not be affected.

The European Consumers Organisation also stressed before the vote the need for strong rules to protect the public from tens of thousands of chemicals with which they have contact in everyday life.

"Some of these chemicals, but we do not know which, almost certainly pose unacceptable risks to ourselves and our children," it said.

The EU lawmakers' vote was highly complex, involving a web of amendments, and lasted for nearly two and a half hours before a definitive decision was reached.

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