We have several big and exciting updates this month, as the EU goes foreward in implementing its Chemcials Strategy for Sustainability in relation to persistent and mobile substances!
Council and Parliament agree on phase out of F-gases by 2050
On 5 October the Council and the Parliament reached a provisional agreement on the revision of the F-gas Regulation, which provides for a complete phase out of HFC consumption by 2050. Production rights allocated by the Commission will be gradually phased down from 2024 to 2049. The agreement includes specific phase-out dates for the use of F-gases in certain products, including key sources of PFAS emissions: heat pumps and air conditioning units must use F-gas free alternatives by 2035 and medium and high voltage switchgear by 2030 and 2032. The provision agreement will be submitted to the Council and the Parliament’s environment committee for endorsement, before its formal adoption and publication in the Official Journal.
European Parliament supports harmonised classification for groups of substances in its position on the revision of CLP
The Parliament adopted its position on the revision of the CLP Regulation in plenary on 4 October. Amendments proposed by the Parliament push for more group classification and specify that ‘whenever considered scientifically justified and possible by a competent authority or the Commission, proposals for harmonised classification and labelling shall prioritise groups of substances rather than individual substances’. The Parliament also calls on the Commission to assess the introduction of hazard criteria for immunotoxicity and neurotoxicity by 31 December 2025. Other amendments include a ban on environmental claims for chemicals classified as hazardous, an obligation to assess the progress on Non-Animal Methods (NAMs) every three years and a right for citizens to submit evidence of incorrect or missing classification – details included in the excel sheet. As both the Parliament and the Council have adopted their position, negotiations between institutions on the final text can start.
ECHA received more than 5 600 comments on the PFAS restriction proposal
ECHA received more than 5 600 comments from more than 4 400 organisations, companies and individuals to the consultation on the draft PFAS restriction proposal, which closed on 25 September 2023. Almost 60% of comments came from companies and 10% from industry or trade associations; 27% came from individuals and the remaining 4% from other stakeholder groups (see ECHA’s press release). Part of these comments are already available on the restriction proposal page. The comments will be considered by RAC and SEAC in their evaluation of the restriction proposal.
European Parliament adopts its position on water legislation; delays expected on revised lists of surface and groundwater pollutants
The Parliament adopted its position on the revision of the Water Framework Directive (WFD), Groundwater (GWD) and Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) Directives on 12 September 2023 and on the Urban Wastewater Treatment (UWWT) Directive on 5 October. In both cases, the final position of the Parliament largely upheld the reports of the ENVI Committee – details provided in the excel sheet. The Council is expected to adopt its general approach on the UWWT Directive on 16 October. Regarding the other water file (revised lists of pollutants – WFD/GWD/EQSD), progress towards a Council negotiating position has been slower and a general approach is not expected before next year, according to ENDS Europe.
Upcoming consultation deadlines:
- Deadline to provide feedback on the proposal for a Regulation on the safety of toys: 31 October 2023.
- Deadline to provide feedback on the proposal for a Directive on Soil Monitoring and Resilience (Soil Monitoring Law): 3 November 2023.
- Deadline to provide feedback on the revision of the general pharmaceutical legislation: 8 November 2023.
Gantt Chart and Detailed Spreadsheet and more info of upcoming actions related to persistent and mobile substances
For more information of regulations under the regulatory watch, as well as a Gantt Chart of the roll out, continuously updated spreadsheet and more information, please visit https://zeropm.eu/regulatory-watch/