EU drops plans to revise chemical rules

AFP | Brussels

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The EU confirmed yesterday it would not be revising chemical safety rules to avoid hitting an already struggling industry with fresh uncertainty.

European Union environment chief Jessika Roswall said it was not the right moment to discuss legal changes, as Europe’s chemical sector suffers from high energy costs and competition from Asia.

“The timing for that is not now,” Roswall told a group of journalists.

Brussels had promised to review the text regulating the manufacturing and use of chemicals known as “REACH” in 2022, with NGOs pushing for stricter rules to better protect human health and the environment.

But those goals clashed with a fresh EU drive to cut red tape and support businesses, as Europe seeks to retain its industrial edge.

This came on the back of big gains in the 2024 European elections by right-wing parties that have been clamouring for the EU to ditch some of its green policies.

Last year, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz argued Brussels needed to soften rather than strengthen environmental rules to help revive Germany’s sluggish economy.

Caught in the middle, the European Commission opted to leave things as they were.