Chemicals: MEPs want simpler and more transparent EU safety assessment rules

• “One-stop shop” access to data on chemicals

• Earlier detection and action on emerging chemical risks

• Easier access to information on safer alternatives to chemicals of concern

Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Climate Change and Food Safety today adopted its position on the EU’s proposed ‘one substance, one assessment' package.

The package consists of three proposals to streamline the safety assessments of chemicals across EU legislation by improving the availability and accessibility of data related to chemicals and maximising synergies between the EU agencies involved.

A common data platform to improve availability and accessibility of data

The proposal will establish a common data platform and ‘one-stop shop' access to data on chemicals compiled under EU legislation related to hazards, physico-chemical properties, presence in the environment, emissions, uses, and environmental sustainability. The data platform will also help to better estimate the level of exposure of EU citizens to chemicals by systematically collecting data about the levels of chemicals found in people (e.g. in blood or breast milk).

MEPs strengthened the Commission text by requiring the inclusion of information on chemicals present in products and on safer alternatives to substances of concern. MEPs wants to encourage the submission of all research data on chemicals (making it obligatory for public funded research, including at the national level) and facilitate data collection through a more standardised process. Studies on chemicals undertaken to fulfil regulatory obligations will have to be notified to the data platform in order to increase transparency and limit duplication.

MEPs also highlighted the need to better detect early warnings signs on emerging chemical risks and suggested improving the mechanism used for detection by including additional data sources and better defining the follow-up actions required following a warning.

Maximising synergies and cooperation between EU agencies

Several EU agencies are involved in scientific and technical work on chemicals, in particular the European Chemicals Agency, the European Food Safety Authority, the European Environment Agency and the European Medicines Agency.

The proposed changes by MEPs will re-allocate the responsibilities for chemicals assessments between EU agencies so they are better equipped to align their priority-setting, timelines, processes, and methodologies used for the assessment of chemicals. MEPs strengthened provisions to resolve divergences on scientific opinions between EU agencies, and added requirements to assess the additional workload and, if necessary, adapt resources to respond to needs.

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After the vote, rapporteur Dimitris Tsiodras (EPP, EL) said: "Today’s vote is a significant step towards better data collection on chemicals and towards assessing their safety. These three pieces of legislation will ensure the relevant regulatory actions will be faster, simpler and more transparent. They will increase the predictability to stakeholders while safeguarding the confidentiality of the data and protecting the intellectual property rights. At the same time, citizens and the environment will be better protected from hazardous chemicals."

Next steps

The report on the “common data platform on chemicals” was adopted with 62 votes in favour, 4 against and 15 abstentions.

The report on the “re-attribution of tasks and improving cooperation among EU agencies” was adopted with 62 votes in favour, 5 against and 14 abstentions.

The report on the “restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical equipment: re-attribution of tasks to the EU Chemicals Agency” was adopted with 71 votes in favour, 3 against and 7 abstentions.

Parliament is scheduled to adopt its mandate on these files during the 31 March - 3 April 2025 plenary session after which the negotiations with the Council on the final text of the legislation can start.

Background

The reform is part of the 2020 EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability to better protect citizens and the environment, and boost innovation to develop safe and sustainable chemicals. It is part of the EU's zero pollution vision for 2050.

The Commission has announced it will launch a chemicals industry package in 2025 as well as a targeted revision of the EU rules on chemicals (REACH).