On Friday 10 July, in an equal result (325 votes in favour, 325 against and 35 abstentions), the European Parliament rejected the proposal to object to the European Commission's draft implementing act granting partial authorisation for certain uses of chromium trioxide.
This motion for a resolution called on the Commission to withdraw this draft on the grounds, inter alia, that chromium trioxide has been added to the candidate list for substances of very high concern under the REACH Regulation because of its classification as a carcinogen and mutagen. This substance would also be a probable endocrine disruptor.
Contacted by EUROPE, Belgian MEP Maria Arena (S&D), one of the rapporteurs for the objection proposal, said she was disappointed with the result, which, with just one more vote, would have “made it clear to the Commission that it was high time to make the protection of workers and the health of European citizens a priority”. She nevertheless felt that, “in the face of pressure from certain lobbies”, this perfect equality could also be seen “as encouraging” for any future application for authorisation.
A close result was expected, given that MEPs on Parliament's Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) had approved the objection proposal only by a slim majority (see EUROPE 12502/5) on 8 June. At the time of going to press, the roll call results were not yet available. (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)