Ministers of environment of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, Norway, Spain and Sweden sent a joint letter to European Commission leaders in early June 2022 “to reiterate our strong support for the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability.”
The ministers declared it is the prerogative of the EU government to protect consumers and “live up to our citizens’ legitimate expectation that products in their everyday life are safe and free from the most harmful substances” (FPF reported). Implementing the ‘extended generic risk assessment’ approach of the Chemicals Strategy within REACH would cover many substances known or suspected to cause harm, include endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). And further, the authors say it “should be a political priority” to include a date in the regulation by which time substances deemed harmful are no longer contained in consumer products
Proposed updates to the REACH regulation include developing a “mixture assessment factor” to address the health effects induced by the combined exposure to several chemicals simultaneously and integrating the essential use concept (FPF reported). The ministers supported both reforms, stating that even though the EU has improved chemical legislation in the last few decades, “as children grow up, the risk of long-term effects from this chemical cocktail will remain or worsen, due to the additional exposure to harmful substances in everyday life, including in childcare articles, toys, food contact materials, cosmetic products, furniture, textiles, drinking water and food.”
The REACH regulation outlines the procedures companies must undergo to collect data on the hazards of the chemicals used in their products and undergoes an evaluation approximately every five years (FPF reported). The last review in 2018 concluded that “REACH is effective” but still had “opportunities for improvement.” An updated REACH regulation is necessary to achieve the targets for a toxic-free, zero pollution Europe as laid out in the European Green Deal (FPF reported) and Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability (FPF reported).
Read more
Ministers of Environment (June 2022), “Joint letter from the ministers of environment of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, Norway, Spain and Sweden to the European Commission.” Government Offices of Sweden (pdf)
Swedish Ministry of the Environment (June 20, 2022). “Sweden demands a faster phasing out of harmful chemicals in consumer goods.” Government Offices of Sweden (in Swedish)
