Options to address the interface between chemical, product and waste legislation
11.6.2018
Question for oral answer O-000064/2018
to the Commission
Rule 128
Lukas Mandl, Christel Schaldemose, Mark Demesmaeker, Anneli Jäätteenmäki, Lynn Boylan, Davor Škrlec, Piernicola Pedicini, Joëlle Mélin, on behalf of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
The Circular Economy Action Plan contains the following twofold objectives, one stemming from waste policy and the other from chemicals policy (policies often perceived to be in opposition to each other): enabling recycling and improving the uptake of secondary raw materials; and substituting substances of concern and, where this is not possible, reducing their presence and improving their tracking.
On 16 January 2018 the Commission adopted a new set of measures to implement the Circular Economy Action Plan, including a communication and accompanying staff working document on ‘the implementation of the circular economy package: options to address the interface between chemical, product and waste legislation’ (COM(2018)0032 and SWD(2018)0020).
The aim of this communication is to promote a broad discussion in the Union on how the major elements identified at the interface between chemical, product and waste legislation can be addressed. The communication’s starting point is that recycling and reuse can be hampered by the presence of certain chemicals. It explores four critical issues identified in the way chemical, product and waste legislation work together and how these are hampering the development of the circular economy. The issues are: insufficient information about substances of concern in products and waste; presence of substances of concern in recycled materials; uncertainties about how materials can cease to be waste; and difficulties in the application of EU waste classification methodologies, which impact on the recyclability of materials (secondary raw materials). The communication seeks to promote discussion on how these issues can be addressed.
Given that it is indisputable that swift action is needed to tackle these interface problems:
– What legislative and non-legislative measures is the Commission intending to take in order to address the major issues identified at the interface between chemical, product and waste legislation, while upholding the high human health, animal health, safety and environmental standards enshrined in EU law?
– What is the timeline for those measures?