Answer given by Executive Vice-President Séjourné on behalf of the European Commission
8.9.2025
The Competitiveness Compass[1] and the 2025 Commission Work Programme[2] focus strongly on simplification and on making EU policies and laws work better and faster to strengthen the EU's competitiveness.
In line with the above, and as announced in the action plan for the Chemicals Industry[3], the Commission is working on a proposal for a targeted revision of the regulation on the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals (REACH) to be adopted by end 2025.
The proposal will have the ambition to simplify the rules and speed up the procedures for industry, taking into account competitiveness, safety, security and sustainability considerations, while ensuring a high level of protection of human health and the environment.
The discussion at the CARACAL[4] expert group referred to by the Honourable Member was part of the consultation of Member States and stakeholders.
The Commission services are following and implementing the commitments of the 2025 Commission Work Programme, in line with the political guidelines.
As per the Better Regulation guidelines, the Commission Services have considered and assessed several options to revise the REACH Regulation. To benefit from the discussion, various options were presented at technical level as well as views by CARACAL members and observers invited.
The Commission services have always been clear that no decision on those options with respect to the Commission proposal had been taken.
Moreover, the final REACH revision will also depend on the final decisions in the European Parliament and the Council during the ordinary legislative procedure.
Therefore, the Commission does not consider there was an ‘internal miscommunication’ on the REACH revision.
- [1] https://commission.europa.eu/topics/eu-competitiveness/competitiveness-compass_en .
- [2] https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/strategy-documents/commission-work-programme/commission-work-programme-2025_en#:~:text=The%202025%20Work%20Programme%20sets%20out%20the%20key,to%20build%20a%20strong%2C%20secure%20and%20prosperous%20Europe.
- [3] https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/publications/european-chemicals-industry-action-plan_en .
- [4] Competent Authorities for REACH and Classification, Labelling and Packaging.