About: REACH
EU ministers reach broad consensus on batteries regulation
EU environment ministers adopted on Thursday (17 March) a general approach for the EU batteries regulation, centred on France's compromise proposal, which had drawn all-around praise for being "balanced" and "ambitious". The Council and the Parliament will now negotiate to agree on the final draft.
No-deal Brexit to leave UK without green watchdog for two years: report
A no deal departure from the EU in March would leave Britain without oversight of key energy and environment problems until at least 2021, a think-tank warned on Thursday (31 January). EURACTIV's media partner, Climate Home News, reports.
Europe’s ‘Kafka-esque’ recycling dilemma for precious metals
Precious metals are big business in the EU but possible conflicts between recycling policies and chemical management mean that the industry risks missing out on a golden opportunity.
Ex-chemicals agency chief: ‘Courage’ needed to rethink EU laws
Europe's chemical management rules, REACH, are over a decade old and the man seen as the architect of the legislation still thinks it is the most modern of its kind in the world. But the former boss of the European Chemicals Agency says the EU could do with going back to the drawing board.
Urban mining: In search of Europe’s valuable waste
Each year Europe wastes millions of tonnes of valuable metals by landfilling or exporting them. How can policy measures increase the recovery of these materials?
32% of chemicals non-compliant with EU rules
A third of chemicals do not comply with European Union rules due to insufficient toxicological data. EURACTIV France’s media partner the Journal de l’environnement reports.
EU circular economy’s REACH for the stars
As the EU doubles down on its waste management efforts and sets its sights on tackling plastic waste, the idea of a circular economy and internal market for recycling is gathering momentum. But it will not be an easy task for lawmakers or industry to realise.
Four reasons EU institutions should and must share more information on harmful chemicals
It is no surprise that key information on harmful chemicals originally lies in the hands of industry alone. But just because it starts with industry, does not mean it should be left there, writes Apolline Roger.
Environmental advocates slam ECHA for transparency shortfall
Environmental advocacy group ClientEarth has criticised the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) for transparency failings that restrict public access to information and slow the adoption of safer chemicals. VideoPromoted content
The impact of REACH authorisation: Costs and benefits
REACH is the European Regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals.
The EU must learn from CETA shambles
After Wallonia finally agreed to not block CETA, Greenpeace’s Jorgo Riss argues that to start rebuilding its credibility, the EU must stop CETA because the deal cements the supremacy of trade above social, health and environmental concerns. InfographicPromoted content
TTIP: A Strong Framework for EU-US Regulatory Cooperation on Chemicals
For more than 29,000 European chemical companies, TTIP is a no-brainer: European manufacturing industries – not just chemicals, but other industries we supply such as automotive and construction – face growing competition from other global regions.
REACH ‘monster’ will devour EU innovation, chemical industry warns
Chemical industry lobbyists have stepped up their criticism of Europe’s REACH chemical safety regulation, branding the law “a monster” that “will devour” the industry’s ability to innovate.
EU chemicals law needs tightening to protect people and nature
Despite advances made since the adoption of the REACH regulation, much more effort is needed to move towards a safer production and use of chemicals, writes Tatiana Santos.
MEPs block Commission proposal to recycle hormone disrupting plastics
The European Parliament overwhelmingly rejected the Commission's plans to allow the recycling of PVC plastics containing DEHP, a hormone disruptor banned in the EU since February 2015. Our partner Journal de l'Environnement reports. VideoPromoted content
The Use of Lead in Ammunition
110 delegates, including journalists, politicians, scientists, members of environmental institutions, hunting and sport shooting organizations and food agencies met at the Symposium “The Sustainable Use of Lead Ammunition in Hunting and Sports Shooting: Facts and Emotions” held on 20 October 2015 in Brussels.
EU court ruling toughens regulations on chemicals of ‘very high concern’
The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruled on 10 September to strengthen the obligations of manufacturers to declare the presence of ‘substances of very high concern’ in their products. Journal de l'Environnement reports. VideoPromoted content
REACH: A test case for better regulation?
With the adoption of the Better Regulation Agenda on 19th May, the European Commission is taking first concrete steps in the definition of its policy.
TTIP a threat to EU chemical safety standards, German NGO says
Friends of the Earth Germany (BUND) sees the transatlantic trade agreement TTIP as a threat to standards protecting against chemicals that may be harmful to humans and the environment. The chemicals industry “vehemently” objected to the NGO’s claim. EURACTIV Germany reports. VideoPromoted content
To “REACH” or to Recycle?!
Over the past decades the European Union has put in place a broad range of environmental legislation to reduce pollution, to better manage the natural resources and overall to contribute to sustainable development goals. Among others, the chemicals legislation has been revised and the use of certain substances has been restricted. VideoPromoted content
EU 2020 and industrial competitiveness: SMEs in the surface engineering sector
As part of the SME week 2014, MEP Paul Rübig, EPP Austria, hosted a high level breakfast debate on the pivotal role of SMEs in achieving the goals set by the European Commission’s EU2020 strategy with a focus on the latest EC Communication on “European Industrial Renaissance" which calls on Member States to boost post-crisis growth and enhance innovation and modernization. European SMEs, and in particular the surface engineering sector, play a crucial role in the overall strategy and their voice, opinions, ideas and concerns will be at the heart of the debate. VideoPromoted content
EUROBAT: Batteries and their contribution to a sustainable society
EUROBAT, the European Association for Automotive and Industrial Batteries, announced the results of studies on trends in automotive batteries. These underline the particular need for the long term co-existence between all battery technologies for meeting future mobility demands. A new report also revealed that closed loop collection and recycling for automotive lead-based batteries is a reality. Batteries for energy storage applications are also readily available and facilitating the integration of renewable energy in the electricity grid. VideoPromoted content
REACh: Innovation and integrated EU goals
Technical innovation plays a significant role in the achievement of the integrated goals of the European Union such as Energy Roadmap 2050 or Resource- efficiency. One main objective of the European Chemicals Legislation’s REACh is to enhance innovation. This should be triggered by the introduction of the candidate list and authorisation route, stimulating the development of safer alternatives to various chemicals. VideoPromoted content
