21/03/2025 (Agence Europe) – Simplification of the regulation on the European taxonomy, known as the ‘green taxonomy’, as part of the ‘Omnibus I’ package proposed by the European Commission, has been denounced by the ChemSec NGO. On Thursday 20 March, the Commission revealed that this relaxation will allow products that use toxic substances to be classified as “green” or “sustainable”. These substances include galaxolide, a hormone disruptor used in cosmetics and perfumes, NBBS and TFA, an eternal pollutant “whose accumulation in drinking water in Europe is causing serious concern”. ChemSec points out that green labelling of these substances will enable companies to qualify for “billions of euros of investment conditional on compliance with EU sustainability criteria”. The EC has two options on the table. One would exclude 247 ‘substances of very high concern’ from sustainable investment, while the other would extend the list to 1,400 products of concern. (FS)