EU Chemicals Plan Faces Backlash Over Delays, Rising Pollution Concerns

(MENAFN) Efforts by the European Union to tighten controls on hazardous chemicals are encountering significant delays, with environmental groups warning that stalled action is contributing to increased pollution levels, according to reports.

Critics argue that the European Commission has effectively become the “chief roadblock” in implementing its chemicals strategy adopted in 2022, claiming that what they describe as “unlawful delays” have resulted in nearly 100,000 tons of additional pollution linked to several groups of hazardous substances.

The concerns were raised in a report titled “The EU’s Restrictions Roadmap”, released on Friday, which highlights growing setbacks in the bloc’s plan to regulate dangerous chemicals, as stated by reports.

Among the substances of concern are toxic chemicals found in products such as children’s diapers, as well as persistent “forever chemicals” used widely in consumer goods. These fall within 14 chemical categories that are reportedly facing major delays in regulatory action.

The European Commission originally introduced its “restrictions roadmap” in April 2022, aiming to phase out broad groups of harmful chemicals as part of what was presented as its most ambitious chemical safety initiative.

However, according to a review by environmental organizations including ClientEarth and the European Environmental Bureau, progress has slowed considerably. No formal regulatory steps have begun for seven of the 22 targeted chemical groups, while another seven have seen their processes effectively paused, raising doubts over the EU’s ability to meet its original goals, according to reports.

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