REACH revision not to be continued
SUMMARY
On 27 April, the ENVI Committee held an exchange of views with Commissioner Jessica Roswall, during which she announced that the Commission is no longer planning to revise REACH, effectively ending the REACH revision initiative.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
- Originally announced in 2020 under the European Green Deal, the REACH revision aimed to simplify the regulatory framework by streamlining procedures and reducing administrative burdens for businesses, while also strengthening the protection of human health and the environment.
- The possible changes discussed included:
- Streamlining registration requirements and reforming the registration systemIntroducing a mixtures assessment factor to address combined exposure risksImproving dossier and substance evaluation, including stronger compliance checksSimplifying authorization processes and making restriction procedures more targeted and efficientEnhancing enforcement and market surveillance, including for remote salesSimplifying and digitalizing supply chain communicationStrengthening control provisions and increasing public participation
- The Commission reassessed the planned REACH revision following extensive discussions on competitiveness, administrative complexity, and the need to maintain a high level of protection against substances of concern such as endocrine disruptors. It concluded that reopening the framework would not be appropriate at this stage, as it could reduce legal certainty and predictability for both industry and Member States.
- The focus will shift towards simplification and modernization of the existing REACH framework, mainly through
- comitology
- .Additional efforts will target strengthened enforcement against non-EU compliant products and substances.These actions are expected to be developed within the current legal framework, without a defined timelin
N.B.
The PFAS restriction process remains unaffected and continues under the current consultation timeline, with a deadline on 25 May.
