The Council of the EU adopted on Monday 15 March its conclusions on the Sustainable Chemicals Strategy, the first step towards the zero pollution and non-toxic environment ambition, as part of the European Green Deal (see EUROPE 12675/34, EUROPE 12674/19).
The EU Environment Ministers will be informed by the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU under ‘other’ items on Thursday 18 March, during their meeting by video conference.
The EU Council welcomes this strategy, which sets out a long-term vision for achieving a high level of protection of human health and the environment, while helping to strengthen the competitiveness of EU industry through the production and use of safe and sustainable chemical substances. It calls for its implementation without delay.
The Commission is invited to implement the actions foreseen, in particular those aimed at streamlining EU chemicals legislation, replacing and minimising substances of concern and phasing out the most harmful chemicals for non-essential societal uses.
The strategy foresees a ban on the most harmful chemical substances in consumer products such as cosmetics, toys, detergents, childcare articles, furniture, textiles and food contact materials, unless they are deemed essential for health, safety or the functioning of society, or unless no alternative is available.
The EU Council also stresses the importance of limiting exposure to endocrine disruptors and reducing the harmful effects of chemical mixtures.
The institution wants the EU to play a leading role at the global level by promoting its rules on chemicals as the gold standard and by ensuring that the EU guarantees access to chemicals that are essential for health and the functioning of society.
See the conclusions: https://bit.ly/38DGKT4 (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)