The Environment Ministers of nine EU Member States (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden), as well as Norway, sent an open letter to the European Commission on Wednesday 30 September calling on it to develop an “ambitious”, “green” and long-term strategy for the sustainable management of chemicals, including concrete actions and milestones.
According to them, this strategy should seek to “protect present and future generations from harm caused by hazardous chemicals and enable a sustainable toxic-free circular economy”.
They added, “surely the path to sustainable prosperity, innovation and competitiveness requires a green transition to a toxic-free circular economy for a healthy planet and healthy people”.
Recalling that, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), trade in chemicals is expected to more than double by 2050, the 10 ministers recommend in particular that the Commission accelerate the replacement and phase-out of chemicals of concern, including imports of products produced with the chemicals banned in the EU.
They also call for the strategy to include measures to provide incentives for industry to develop safe chemicals and to ensure that existing and emerging concerns such as endocrine disrupters, the combined effects of chemicals and perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are addressed.
In addition, they call on the institution to streamline legislation on chemicals, products and waste to ensure the smooth functioning of a circular economy with safe chemicals, high-quality and non-toxic secondary raw materials and sustainable products.
The presentation of the Commission's Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability is scheduled for 14 October.
See the letter: https://bit.ly/3jfX7Zk (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)