Chemicals

The European Ombudsman confirmed that the European Commission’s failure to share full documents relating to the (proposed and now postponed) revision of the REACH regulation constitutes “maladministration”.

EU politicians will cosy up with Big Toxics at a secretive event on 20 February to discuss a new 'European Industrial Deal' — a blatant showcase of corporate capture and an attempt to shift the political agenda in a more profit-minded direction.

As Prime Minister De Croo and President von der Leyen hobnob with the leaders of big business at BASF Antwerp, 70+ NGOs have demanded an end to privileged access for polluting industries and ambitious action on the toxic pollution, biodiversity, and climate crises.

As politicians get ready to cosy up with Big Toxics at a private event in a chemicals factory to discuss a new 'European Industrial Deal', Corporate Europe Observatory looks at how the Green Deal's proposals to reduce and replace toxic substances that harm health and ecosystems, have been delayed and sidelined.

The Commission may shortly publish its thinking on 'essential use', an important component of the Green Deal's strategy on chemicals. This will help determine whether industry can carry on contaminating consumer products with hazardous substances or whether such chemicals should only be used when absolutely essential and when no safe alternatives exist.

New evidence reveals how Big Toxics and its allies have used misleading narratives to try to weaken the concept of ‘essential use’, to create regulatory loopholes for their hazardous products, and ultimately derailing the Commission’s flagship chemicals reform.

The EU Ombudsman has found that it was “maladministration” when the EU Commission did not disclose the full impact assessment and associated Regulatory Scrutiny Board opinion on the upcoming REACH revision.

‘Stop deindustrialisation!’ is the latest hyperbole from the German chemical-industry association in pushing back against more robust regulation of toxic chemicals.

The EU is proposing to phase out PFAS, the toxic ‘forever chemicals’ found in everything from frying pans to waterproof coats. But PFAS producers and their industry customers are fighting back.

Corporate Europe Observatory uncovers the story of how the toxics industry is fighting back against the upcoming regulation of PFAS or 'forever chemicals', which are found in everything from frying pans to food packaging.

A redacted European Commission impact assessment has revealed a worrying dilution of ambition on the reform of REACH, the EU's key chemicals regulation. Meanwhile the European Ombudsman is probing whether the full impact assessment should have been released.

New analysis shows that major chemical industry players ‒ Big Toxics ‒ are at the top of LobbyFacts rankings when it comes to lobby spend.