News
New developments in the EU environmental policy regularly appear in the news. We select publications prioritizing chemicals and waste information and upload them to this website. News is updated periodically to keep readers well informed.
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Protest against chemical industry lobbying
NGOs request a comprehensive ban on PFAS
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PFAS Phase Out: A Prerequisite for a Water-Resilient Europe
To protect Europe’s water resources, we urge policymakers to enact a universal PFAS ban.
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NGOs urge the EU Commission to include the plastics and polymer sector in ESPR Working Plan
The letter highlights the significant environmental impact of plastic and polymer production
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270+ organisations demand strict chemical regulations from EU Commission
NGOs call on European Commission’s President Ursula von der Leyen to shun deregulation and prioritise the protection of people and nature
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MEPs Raise Alarm on PFAS in Drinking Water
PFAS water pollution should be tackled at source and the polluter pays principle has to be applied.
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Ministers Collaborate on Ambitious REACH Revision
Several Ministers have joined the Swedish Environment Minister in calling for an ambitious REACH revision
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Toxic-free Europe now!
European NGOs urge the European Commission to phase out PFAS
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EU Commission Proposes PFHxA Restriction Guide Amid Environmental Concerns
The European Commission has proposed a non-binding guide on PFHxA restriction
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Widely used PFAS-pesticide about to lose EU approval
(4 and 5 December 2024) Flufenacet, a widely used active ingredient in pesticides, is about to lose its EU approval granted in 2003, if Member States agree to a draft decision by the European Commission. This follows concerns by Polish authorities who received an application for renewing the approval that will expire in June 2025.…
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Head of ECHA says grouping can simplify REACH procedures
(4 December 2024) “Chemical grouping […] is a good way to simplify […]. By looking at groups [of chemicals], we can in a way address all the chemicals in one setting but also give the industry the certainty about the actions that are going to happen to a particular chemical”, said Dr. Sharon McGuinness, Executive-director…
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The EEB Chemical Working Group Newsletter of October 2024
HEJSupport’s work on the Global Plastics Treaty and a new project on plastic waste in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia is featured in the EEB Chemical Working Group Newsletter published in October 2024. This issue explores vital topics in EU policy and chemical regulations, including on PFAS. Significant policy changes following the EU elections,…
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EU officials broke the law by delaying bans on dangerous chemicals
Each moment of inaction allows more toxins to seep into our daily lives
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Only 29.5% of European surface waters achieve good chemical status
The decline of European surface water quality is largely due to the presence of toxic substances
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Open letter – reaction to Draghi Report
HEJSupport joined a group of civil society organizations expressing concerns regarding the recently published Draghi report. The report aims to assist the European Commission in shaping a plan for sustainable prosperity and competitiveness, including the creation of a Clean Industrial Deal. A key takeaway from the Draghi report is that the chemicals sector, by far…
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No more hypocritical, cruel, unfair and intolerable trade
“Unfair” trade loopholes allow European companies to export toxic products banned from the EU market
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Prioritizing PMT and vPvM Chemicals: UBA’s Regulatory Actions to Protect Water Resources
UBA’s focus on PMT chemicals stems from a critical need to protect water resources, as many substances remain difficult to assess.
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NGOs call on EU policymakers to put an end to PVC
PVC exposes us to toxic chemicals, threatening water sources, the ozone layer, and other critical natural systems essential to planetary health.
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EU is planning to stricter regulate BPA in food contact materials
BPA in food contact materials has been a topic of public and scientific concern for many years, with continuous research examining its toxicity.
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Toxic-Free Toys: Internal Market Committee Reaffirms Previous Parliament’s Stance
The European Parliament stands for restricting the most harmful chemicals in toys
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Chancellor Scholz Supports Industry-Friendly PFAS Strategy Amid Environmental and Health Concerns
Germany is one of the five countries that submitted the universal PFAS restriction proposal to ECHA in March 2023
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The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) is in effect
Successful implementation of the ESPR will depend on strong stakeholder engagement
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Von der Leyen to simplify REACH for more circularity and resilience
(18 July 2024) Newly elected President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, wants to simplify the chemicals safety law REACH as part of a “continued shift to a more sustainable pattern of production and consumption, retaining the value of resources in our economy longer”, according to her political guidelines. This provides an additional…
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Push for the European Pact for the Future
By supporting the European Pact for the Future you can help drive policies that foster sustainability and social equity across Europe.
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Ministers Call on the EU Commission to Maintain Ambition in Chemical Strategy for Sustainability
Environmental ministers urged “the Commission to keep a high level of ambition in the implementation of the strategy”
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ECHA Initiates Review to Classify ‘Forever Chemical’ TFA as Reprotoxic 1B
A classification as reprotoxic 1B would lead to a ban of PFAS pesticides
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The BANner PFAS initiative
We, European civil society organisations, urge to ban all PFAS in consumer products by 2025 and to have a complete ban by 2030.
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Countries Approve Ban on Hazardous Bisphenols in Food Contact Materials
A Member State committee has issued a favorable opinion on a proposed ban of bisphenol A and “other hazardous bisphenols” in specific food contact materials.
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Have you heard about PFAS?
Less than 1 in 4 Eastern Europeans have heard of PFAS pollution. There is a similarly low level of awareness in France and the Iberian Peninsula.
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Creating a better world for future generations
As the new 2024-2029 mandate approaches, EU politicians must urgently address widespread pollution, and its negative impacts on health and the economy.
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Particular PFAS found in rivers and groundwater across Europe
PFAS was present in all 23 surface water samples and six groundwater samples in 10 EU countries
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The European People’s Party has shown more ambition on pollution than on other green issues
Environmental groups rated EPP at 30% for fighting pollution, compared to 19% for nature protection and 25% for climate action.
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Our vision for a prosperous and sustainable industry: a positive blueprint for the future
To ensure sustainable industry, a zero-pollution, toxic-free, socially just, resource-preserving, and decarbonized industry are needed.
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The BANner PFAS initiative
Join the European NGO initiative to ban PFAS.
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The French Parliament has voted to prohibit the use of PFAS in textiles, cosmetics, and ski waxes
The French Parliament voted for ban PFAS for all textiles by 2030
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Sign the petition for a Toxic-free Europe now!
We call on the EU Commission to commit to a toxic free Europe and make taking action against toxic chemicals an urgent priority
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Plastic pellet pollution will be controlled better, but will it address past and future spills?
The presence of loopholes in the regulation undermines its ambition and represents a missed opportunity to hold all pellet handlers accountable for their role in plastic pellet pollution.
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Submission to the EU Commission on EDCs in Food Contact Materials
HEJSupport welcomes the initiative of the Commission to ban BPA. However, it is not enough to just ban BPA and some “other bisphenols” instead of the whole group of bisphenols.
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The European Parliament strengthens Commission’s proposal for toxic-free toys
(13 March 2023) The European Parliament voted in support of strengthening the chemical safety provisions in the Commission’s proposal for a new toy safety regulation.It extended the list of restricted substances to cover chemicals that accumulate in humans or persist in the environment and included a group restriction of the ‘forever chemicals’, PFAS, and bisphenols.The…
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Harmful chemicals in everyday products – Research and product tests by BEUC member organisations
The research included in the repository spans from 2017 to the present day. Tests are categorized by product type, and within each category, they are further organized based on the year of testing.
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Chemical sector leads a push for putting industry first in next Commission
(20 February 2024) The chemical industry took the lead and gathered energy-intensive companies and sectors at the European Industry Summit 2024 at BASF in Antwerp to ask EU leaders, Commission President von der Leyen and Belgian Prime Minister De Croo, to put industry first during the next five years. In their Antwerp Declaration, industry asks…
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The universal PFAS restriction proposal: one year on
What PFAS regulations exist beyond the EU?
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NGOs CALL ON EU POLICYMAKERS TO DEVELOP AMBITIOUS PHASE-OUT STRATEGIES FOR THE HARMFUL PLASTIC
We support the petition to ban PVC
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Belgian presidency will prioritize the PFAS pollution prevention
Preventing and addressing PFAS pollution problem is urgently needed to protect human and environmental health
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Environment committee unanimously supports banning the most harmful chemicals in toys
Environment Commitee votes for ban on PFAS and bisphenols in toys.
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Belgian presidency commits to advancing the EU Chemicals Strategy
Belgium committed to advace the EU Chemicals Strategy
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Belgium EU Presidency agenda – chemicals files
What are the incoming Belgium EU Presidency`s plans on chemicals?
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Is REACH revision still possible?
EU Commission confirms that REACH revision is very important
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German Government published five-point plan on EDCs
The plan is a good first step. However, concrete regulatory actions and awareness-raising messures are urgently needed.
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Immediate action is needed to reduce the risks of PVC and its additives
The damaging health and environmental impacts posed by PVC call for a complete phase-out of this material.
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Hopes and Challenges of the EU Decision to Ban Plastic Waste Export
The EU Parliament decided to stop shipping plastic waste to non-OECD countries.