On November 25, 2021, the European Commission’s high-level roundtable on the implementation of the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability (CSS) adopted the publication of a joint report related to compliance and enforcement of chemicals legislation within the EU. This follows the group’s second meeting on November 25 after the group of 32 stakeholders from industry, civil society, academia, international organizations was established in March 2021 (FPF reported).
The report includes a set of ten recommendations that were agreed upon by roundtable members. These include detailing how the EU should: handle non-compliant companies, substances, and products; ensure registration and risk management measures; encourage compliance and data generation; remove incentives for non-compliance, implementing harmonized and coordinated enforcement; provide sufficient support to enforcement authorities as well as sufficient resources and funding for enforcement; ensure standard analytical methods and capacity for controls; better address imports and online platforms; improve cooperation and sharing of data between stakeholders; and enhance cooperation with non-EU countries.
Notably, the recommendations discuss implementing a new mechanism to allow for ‘whistle blowing’, which would empower stakeholders aware of non-compliances to report these to the authorities. More funding has also been called for to support consumer, health, and environmental organizations and NGOs to research information needs to ensure consumers have access to appropriate information on chemicals. Each of the ten recommendations are set to be further discussed by break-out sessions of roundtable members.
Reference
European Commission (November 25, 2021). “Report of the High-Level Roundtable on the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability.” (pdf)
Read More
European Commission (November 26, 2021). “Chemicals strategy: high-level roundtable adopts joint report on enforcement and compliance.”
Clelia Oziel (November 24, 2021). “EU strategy roundtable calls for ‘whistle-blowing mechanism’ on non-compliance.”
