EEB | From Risk to Resilience: Navigating Towards a Toxic-Free Future

This report comprehensively evaluates how ambitious and how far advanced the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability (CSS) is today. It takes in REACH, the CLP, the ‘One Substance, One Assessment’ package and initiatives like the Essential Use Concept (EUC) and Generic Approach to Risk Management (GARM). Adjacent plans on PFAS and Endocrine Disruptors, the Zero Pollution Action Plan and the Circular Economy Action Plan are also considered. Sectoral legislation with chemical control provisions, such as the Industrial Emissions Directive and the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, are referenced to ensure this is a comprehensive assessment.

This report also offers a case study on the PFAS that illustrates a range of familiar problems that continue to hold back effective chemical protections, from the proliferation of chemical diversity outpacing regulatory oversight to the chilling lack of corporate integrity. Furthermore, the case study exposes significant gaps in enforcement and a concerning level of ignorance among downstream users of chemicals. The failure to effectively control PFAS pollution not only poses direct health risks but also highlights broader difficulties in managing chemical risks in Europe. Our report concludes with recommendations we hope will be taken up by the next Commission when it is appointed by the end of the year, as well as new and experienced parliamentarians and member states.