‘…Chemicals are part and parcel of our everyday life, and they allow us to develop innovative solutions for greening our economy.’
The European Commission is seeking to further strengthen the EU’s chemical policy with the adoption of a new Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability. The Commission said that the Strategy is the ‘first step towards a zero pollution ambition for a toxic-free environment,’ which was announced as part of the European Green Deal. The new plans will also take into account the latest scientific knowledge as well as addressing the concerns of citizens.
The Commission said that the Strategy will boost innovation for safe and sustainable chemicals, and increase protection of human health and the environment. There will also be mechanisms to prohibit the use of the most harmful chemicals in consumer products such as toys, childcare articles, cosmetics, detergents, food contact materials and textiles, unless proven essential for society.
Other initiatives under the new strategy include: addressing the combination effect of chemicals by looking at the risk posed to human health due to daily exposure to a wide mix of chemicals from different sources. The Strategy also aims to boost innovation and promote the EU’s competitiveness. ‘As far as possible, new chemicals and materials must be safe and sustainable by design i.e. from production to end of life,’ the Commission said.
Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal, Frans Timmermans said ‘…Chemicals are part and parcel of our everyday life, and they allow us to develop innovative solutions for greening our economy. But we need to make sure that chemicals are produced and used in a way that does not hurt human health and the environment. It is especially important to stop using the most harmful chemicals in consumer products…’
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