Rules in place provide a high level of protection against harmful chemicals for EU citizens and the environment, a review of the EU chemicals legislative framework has shown.
The review addressed some 40 pieces of sectoral chemicals legislation, including specific rules on chemicals found in pesticides or cosmetics, or rules on the labelling, classification and packaging of chemicals.
The report, which complements the 2018 review of the EU’s REACH Regulation, confirms that the rules in place provide a high level of protection against harmful chemicals for citizens and the environment and contribute to an efficient functioning of the Single Market.
The EU has one of the most comprehensive legal frameworks in the world, which offers a global benchmark for chemical risk management.
The EU has already significantly reduced citizens’ exposure to harmful chemicals by banning or restricting the use of certain substances and is continuously looking to limit the risk posed by harmful chemicals.
EU chemicals legislation has also been instrumental in ensuring free circulation of substances, mixtures and articles through harmonisation of standards and requirements.
The report also identifies certain areas for improvement in the implementation and application of the rules, including the need for the simplification and streamlining of hazard and risk assessment processes, providing better consumer information, and supporting implementation of the legislation by the Member States.
The results of the report will be further discussed on June 27-28 during a High Level Conference on “EU Chemicals Policy 2030”.
These discussions will provide valuable input towards a common long-term vision and objectives of EU chemicals policy, in line with Sustainable Development Goals and the New Strategic Agenda 2019-2024 to build a climate-neutral, green, fair and social Europe.
The full report can be found here.
Also, the European Commission and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) are taking action to make sure that REACH registration dossiers are compliant with EU legal requirements. The new Action Plan envisages a significant increase in the number of compliance checks carried out on registration dossiers
