In December 2024, several ministers joined Swedish Environment Minister Pourmokhtari in advocating for a comprehensive revision of the EU’s chemical safety law, the REACH regulation. During a discussion at the Environment Council, they expressed support for banning the most harmful chemicals from consumer products.
Pourmokhtari stated that REACH simplification should not come at the expense of protection for human health and the environment. She also emphasized the central role of the generic risk assessment, information requirements and enforcement to REACH revision.
Pourmokhtari received backing from ministers from Austria, Luxembourg, Denmark, Finland, Belgium, as well as the Dutch and French delegations.
Commissioner Roswall confirmed the Commission’s commitment to presenting the proposal for a REACH revision by the end of 2025. She outlined her reform plans, which include:
- Reducing reliance on the authorisation procedure in favor of broader, manageable restrictions;
- Simplifying and digitalizing the communication of chemical safety information within the supply chain;
- Enhancing enforcement to ensure better application of the rules; and,
- Addressing gaps in protection for the environment and human health, particularly regarding information registration gaps, such as those related to endocrine disruptors.
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