CHEM Trust has consistently highlighted how when one hazardous substance is banned, the chemicals industry often substitute it with similar, potentially toxic alternative. Therefore, we call for whole groups of chemicals of concern to be restricted – rather than tackle individual chemicals one at a time.

We were very pleased that the EU made a commitment to chemical group restrictions two years ago in the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability (CSS) . And it is good news to see the newly published ‘Restrictions Roadmap’, which is the first substantive output from the CSS, outlining plans to restrict the use of a number of groups of chemicals, including many CHEM Trust work on and are very concerned about: bisphenols, phthalates and brominated flame retardants.

CHEM Trust has consistently highlighted the dangers posed by these chemicals used in consumer products: from being carcinogenic, disrupting the human hormone system and being highly persistent in the environment. We are pleased to finally see a commitment to phasing them out, a decision which will impact human, wildlife and environmental health now and in generations to come.

This ‘Roadmap’, however, as the name indicates, is just the start of a process of banning these chemicals. The Commission, Member States and the EU Chemicals Agency will now work together to draft and finalise bans on these substances. We look forward to more progress being made on the restrictions and will be following the policy processes closely.

Read a background briefing here and a press release produced by the European Environmental Bureau, EEB.

Read more CHEM Trust analysis on this issue here.

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