Chemicals: Commission seeks views on revision of REACH, the EU’s legislation on chemicals

Today, the Commission is launching a public consultation on the revision of the Regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH). The revision will aim to align the EU’s chemical rules with the Commission’s ambition for safe and sustainable chemicals and a high level of protection of health and the environment, while preserving the internal market. The planned REACH revision is one of the actions announced in the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability. Commissioner for the Internal Market, Thierry  Breton, said: “Europe already plays a leading role in safe and sustainable chemicals. Our chemicals policy aims to accelerate this transition for the benefit of our citizens and the environment, while continuing to enable innovation by the chemicals industry. I count on industry, civil society, academia, and public authorities to help us identify the solutions that can support these efforts.” Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius, said: “We have come a long way regulating chemicals in the EU. But the ambition of our European Green Deal is that we all live in a truly toxic-free environment. We cannot afford to expose our health and our nature to harmful chemicals. The revision of REACH will deliver on this ambition.” The Commission invites citizens and interested parties to express views on a wide range of policy matters including registration requirements, mixtures assessment factors, communication in the supply chains, dossier and substance evaluation, the authorisation and restriction processes, and control and enforcement.  The public consultation will feed into the ongoing work on an impact assessment. The consultation will run until mid-April 2022 and is available here. More information in our news item.