In the Chemical strategy for sustainability, presented on 14 October 2020 under the European Green Deal, the European Commission announced a revision of the Regulation on the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals (REACH) 'in the most targeted way possible'. The proposal, planned for the fourth quarter of 2022, would be subject to comprehensive impact assessments, including analyses of how SMEs are affected and innovation is fostered or hindered.

According to the inception impact assessment, published in May 2021, options considered would include revising registration requirements; introducing a mixtures assessment factor (to address the risks of exposure to several substances); simplifying communication in the supply chains; revising the provisions for dossier and substance evaluation; reforming the authorisation process; reforming the restriction process; and revising provisions for control and enforcement. This preliminary list of options may however evolve with the analysis.

In its work programme for 2023, published on 18 October 2022, the European Commission indicated that the revision of REACH would be pushed back to the fourth quarter of 2023.

So far this revision has not been tabled. In her political guidelines for the new Commission, however, the President-elect Ursula von der Leyen announced that the Commission would put forward a new chemicals industry package, aiming to 'simplify REACH' and 'provide clarity on PFAS'.

References:

• European Commission, Commission work programme 2023. A Union standing firm and united, 18 October 2022
• European Commission, Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability. Towards a Toxic-Free Environment, COM(2020) 667, with Annex
• European Commission, Inception impact assessment on the Revision of EU legislation on registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals, 4 May 2021
• European Parliament, Resolution of 10 July 2020 on the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability
• Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH)

Author: Vivienne Halleux, Members' Research Service, legislative-train@europarl.europa.eu