Sweden calls for generic bans for most harmful substances in consumer products in REACH revision
At the Environment Council of 17 December, Sweden, supported by Denmark, Finland and Luxembourg, presented an information note calling for introducing generic bans for the most harmful substances (e.g. carcinogens, endocrine disruptors) in consumer products through the revision of the REACH Regulation, announced for 2025. According to the four Member States, the adoption of generic bans would be ‘simpler, more predictable and faster’ than the current restriction requirements and would minimise the presence of harmful chemicals in recycled materials. No other Member State endorsed the information note during the Council meeting, although some expressed support for the revision of REACH for its general objectives of improving the protection of human health and the environment. The Netherlands indicated they have a different view on generic risk management than that proposed in the information note, as generic bans ‘could have disproportionate effects’ and should only be used after identifying risks of exposure to substances of very high concern’.
MEPs calls for further action to address drinking water contamination with PFAS
During a plenary debate in the European Parliament on the right to clean drinking water in the EU, several MEPs raised concerns about PFAS pollution in EU drinking water and called for further action to tackle pollution at source, including rapidly adopting a broad PFAS restriction (not only in consumer products, but also professional products), introducing monitoring requirements and quality standards for PFAS in surface water (as proposed in ongoing revision of the EQS Directive), banning the use of PFAS pesticides, taking additional measures to ensure the application of the polluter pays principle, and support local authorities and water suppliers in financing advanced water treatment. Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms Raffaele Fitto replied that the Commission ‘has launched a study to evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of treatment techniques for removing PFAS from drinking water’ and ‘will consider what steps might need to be taken to further protect human health through the Drinking Water Directive’. Additionally, the Commission will ‘make sure that that these topics are properly addressed in the water resilience strategy’, announced as a Commission priority.
Soil monitoring, One Substance – One Assessment package and priority substances in water on Polish presidency’s table
Poland took over the presidency of the Council of the European Union from Hungary on 1 January 2025 and will hold it until June. The programme of the Polish presidency announces the continuation of negotiations with the European Parliament on the Soil Monitoring Directive, as no deal could be reached between the two institutions in December. The presidency also indicates it will initiate negotiations with the European Parliament on the One Substance – One Assessment package. The programme finally mentions the continuation and possible finalisation of the negotiations on the amendments to the Directives on priority substances in water (Water Framework Directive, Groundwater Directive, Environmental Quality Standards Directive).
More information 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/