European Commission Delays Rules on Dangerous Chemicals
European Commission Delays Rules on Dangerous Chemicals
Introduction
A new report from two environmental groups says the European Commission did not start making rules for seven groups of dangerous chemicals. It also stopped work on seven other groups. The plan was to stop using these chemicals in the EU.
Main Body
The report came out in 2026. It looks at the plan from 2022. The Commission did not start rules for seven groups. It stopped work on seven more. Environmental groups say these delays are against the law. The delays caused about 98,000 tonnes of extra pollution. The biggest problem is lead in bullets and fishing tools. The Commission delayed the rules for this lead for 23 months. Every year, about 44,000 tonnes of lead go into the environment from these things. Other rules are delayed. One rule is for lead in bullets. Lead in bullets can cause kidney sickness. Another rule is for chemicals in children''s products. These chemicals can cause cancer. Another rule is for a fertilizer. This fertilizer causes cancer. Another rule is for a chemical. This chemical stays in the body. People use it in cars to stop fire. Under EU rules, the Commission must write a change to the list of banned chemicals within three months after experts give their opinion. The report says the Commission never did this on time. Delays were from 13 to 47 months. The average delay was two years. The Commission made some rules. For example, the Commission made rules for PFAS chemicals in firefighting foam, lead in PVC plastics, and some chemicals in clay pigeon shooting. The Commission did not answer questions. The report also says the Commission removed some chemical groups from the plan. This happened after experts said no to the rules, or because the Commission chose different ways to make rules. The latest update of the plan moved the dates for some groups later. The Commission did not say why. A researcher said the lack of political will is very frustrating. She said the Commission''s not doing its work is a long-time problem.
Conclusion
The plan to stop dangerous chemicals is not finished. Environmental groups want the Commission to work faster, follow the law, and be more open about its work.
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European Commission Faces Delays in Implementing Hazardous Chemical Restrictions Under 2022 Roadmap
Introduction
A progress review by ClientEarth and the European Environmental Bureau shows that the European Commission has not started regulatory processes for seven of the 22 hazardous chemical groups in its 2022 restrictions roadmap, and has stopped progress on another seven groups. The roadmap, announced in April 2022, was intended to phase out large groups of harmful chemicals under the EU''s REACH regulation.
Main Body
The review, published in 2026, assesses the implementation of the restrictions roadmap four years after its launch. According to the report, the Commission has not started regulation for seven chemical groups and has frozen progress on seven others. Environmental groups claim that these delays are illegal and have caused approximately 98,000 tonnes of additional pollution from six of the groups. The biggest source of this pollution is lead in ammunition and fishing tackle, which was delayed by 23 months. The European Chemicals Agency estimates that about 44,000 tonnes of lead are released into the environment each year from these products. Other delayed restrictions include lead in bullets (associated with chronic kidney disease), substances in childcare products linked to cancer and gene mutations, calcium cyanamide fertilizer (a cancer-causing substance), and a flame retardant that builds up in living things and is used in cars. Under REACH, the Commission is required to write a change to the restriction list within three months of receiving expert committee opinions. The report found that this deadline has never been kept, with delays between 13 and 47 months, averaging two years. However, some restrictions have been put into effect, including those on PFAS in firefighting foam, lead in PVC plastics, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in clay pigeon shooting. The Commission has not responded to requests for comment. The report also notes that certain chemical groups have been removed from the roadmap after committees advised against restriction or because the Commission chose other ways to regulate. The latest annual update of the roadmap has delayed schedules for several other groups without giving reasons. Mirella Miettinen, a chemical regulation researcher at the University of Eastern Finland not involved in the report, said the lack of political will is very frustrating and called the Commission''s administrative neglect a long-standing problem.
Conclusion
The implementation of the European Commission''s restrictions roadmap is still far from complete. Environmental organizations are calling on the Commission to speed up regulatory action, follow its legal duties under REACH, and be more open and allocate resources better.
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European Commission Faces Delays in Implementing Hazardous Chemical Restrictions Under 2022 Roadmap
Introduction
A progress review conducted by ClientEarth and the European Environmental Bureau indicates that the European Commission has failed to initiate regulatory processes for seven of the 22 hazardous chemical groups targeted in its 2022 restrictions roadmap, and has effectively halted progress on an additional seven groups. The roadmap, announced in April 2022, was intended to phase out broad categories of toxic substances under the EU''s REACH chemical regulation framework.
Main Body
The review, published in 2026, assesses the implementation status of the restrictions roadmap four years after its launch. According to the report, the Commission has not commenced regulation for seven chemical groups and has frozen advancement on seven others. Environmental groups allege that these delays, which they characterize as unlawful, have resulted in approximately 98,000 tonnes of additional pollution from six of the groups. The largest contributor to this figure is lead in ammunition and fishing tackle, which experienced a 23-month delay; the European Chemicals Agency estimates that roughly 44,000 tonnes of lead are released into the environment annually from these sources. Other delayed restrictions include lead in bullets (linked to chronic kidney disease), substances in childcare articles associated with cancer and genetic mutations, calcium cyanamide fertilizer (a carcinogen), and a bioaccumulative flame retardant used in automobiles. Under REACH, the Commission is obligated to draft an amendment to the restriction list within three months of receiving expert committee opinions. The report found that this deadline has never been met, with delays ranging from 13 to 47 months and averaging two years. Some restrictions have been successfully enacted, including those on PFAS in firefighting foam, lead in PVC plastics, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in clay pigeon shooting. The Commission has not responded to requests for comment. The report also notes that certain chemical groups have been removed from the roadmap after committees advised against restriction or because the Commission opted for alternative regulatory pathways. The latest annual update of the roadmap has postponed timelines for several other groups without providing explanations. Mirella Miettinen, a chemical regulation researcher at the University of Eastern Finland not involved in the report, described the lack of political will as extremely frustrating and characterized the Commission''s administrative negligence as longstanding.
Conclusion
The implementation of the European Commission''s restrictions roadmap remains substantially incomplete, with environmental organizations urging the Commission to accelerate regulatory action, comply with its legal obligations under REACH, and improve transparency and resource allocation.