The Commission is failing to regulate toxic chemicals
21 October 2024
PFAS, also called 'forever chemicals' because they don't break down in the environment, is just one example of a chemical known to be highly toxic that is found in European waters, soils – and yes, even your body – due to its use in everything from clothing to food packaging to firefighting foam. Yet, four years after adopting the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, which included plans to improve registering and restricting PFAS, the EU Commission has failed to take practical steps to do so.
According to the European Environment Bureau (EEB), the Commission has largely failed to implement its chemical strategy. "Every day of inaction prolongs exposure to toxic substances," said Tatiana Santos, Head of Chemicals Policy at the EEB. "Babies are being born 'pre-polluted' by unregulated chemicals, and countless people are falling ill or dying prematurely…" She added that it seems the Commission has forgotten its core mission to safeguard citizens.
 | Paul Krantz In the Commission president's guidelines for the coming term, there is a commitment to simplify the registration and restriction of chemicals and to "bring clarity" regarding PFAS. However, watchdog groups like the EEB suggest that EU leaders are more concerned with boosting competitiveness for chemical manufacturers. The European Chemical Industry Council is Europe's second-largest lobbying group. In 2023, it spent at least €10 million to influence politicians in Brussels and recorded at least 168 meetings with high-level commissioners, according to the EU Transparency Register. As long as corporate lobbying continues at this level, Europe's leaders can be expected to favour big chemical manufacturers at the expense of all of us. |
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