Seminar on the Latest Trends in
Chemical Substances
Management in EU,Tokyo, 14 September 2020

European Union Policy onchemicals management in EU
toward post-SAICM

Sylvain BINTEIN
EUROPEAN COMMISSION, DG ENVIRONMENTEU Chemicals Policy:
where do we stand?

2

Recently published policy documents and evaluations: Fitness check of the most relevant chemicals legislation (excluding REACH)
 The REACH Review/Refit evaluation
 Batteries directive
 A EU strategic approach to pharmaceuticals in the environment
 Towards a comprehensive European Union framework on endocrine disruptors
 Occupational Safety and Hygiene (OSH) Legislation
 Waste legislation
 EU Ecolabel
 Drinking Water
 Fertilisers
 3 Evaluation of the EU 7th Environment Action ProgramOngoing policy evaluations:






4

Waste shipments
Urban Waste Water
Safety of toys
Detergents
Plant protection products and Residues of pesticides
Fitness check of rules on endocrine disruptors in EU legislation
Evaluation of EU legislation on Food Contact Materials (FCM)
Fitness Check of the EU Water Legislation

High Level Conference
27-28 June 2019http://www.euchemicalspolicy2030.teamwork.fr/

55

Chemicals in the new EuropeanCommission‘Europe needs to move towards a zeropollution ambition. I will put forward across-cutting strategy to protect citizens’
health from environmental degradation andpollution, addressing air and water quality,
hazardous chemicals, industrial emissions,pesticides and endocrine disrupters.’
U. Von der Leyen – President of the EU Commission- A Union that strives for more - Political Guidelines
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/sites/beta-political/files/political-guidelinesnext-commission_en.pdf
6The European Green Deal

77Source: Twitter @TimmermansEU, 8 October 2019

A zero pollution ambition for a
toxic-free environment (1)Zero Pollution Ambition (Q19)
Drivers of Pollution

Pollution challenges

Zero pollution ambition• Air pollution – 400 000
premature deaths• Water pollution - 40% notgood ecological state• Soil pollution
contamination at 250 000sites• Pollution of oceans seaseuthrophication, noise,
litter, etc.
• Chemical pollution hazardous chemicals inhuman blood andenvironment“For the health of ourcitizens, our children
and grandchildren,
Europe needs to movetowards a zeropollution ambition. I
will put forward a crosscutting strategy toprotect citizens’ healthfrom environmental
degradation andpollution, addressing air
and water quality,hazardous chemicals,
industrial emissions,pesticides andendocrine
disrupters.”
Ursula von der Leyen

8

A zero pollution ambition for a
toxic-free environment (2)• Creating a toxic-free environment requires moreaction to prevent pollution as well as measures
to clean and remedy it.
• EU needs to better monitor, report, preventand remedy pollution from air, water, soil, andconsumer products• COM will propose measures to address pollution
from new or particularly harmful sources ofpollution such as micro plastics and chemicals
9

COM will present a chemicals
strategy for sustainability:• To help protect citizens and the environment
better against hazardous chemicals andencourage innovation for safe and sustainable
alternatives• To combine better health and environmental
protection and increased global competitiveness.

10• by simplifying and strengthening the legal
framework• moving to ‘one substance – one assessment’ andto provide greater transparency• to rapidly reflect scientific evidence on the risk
posed by endocrine disruptors, hazardous
chemicals in products including imports,
combination effects of different chemicals andvery persistent chemicals

Links to other priorities/initiatives ofthe Political Guidelines- An European Green Deal: Circular Economy, Farm to Fork,
Biodiversity Strategy, Sustainable Finance- An Economy that works for people: Developing market forcompanies, Plan to fight Cancer, Monitoring United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals- An Europe fit for the digital age: Data and Artificial
Intelligence to support societal solutions- Protecting our European way of life: Protect citizens/single
market, tighter enforcement- A stronger Europe in the world: Highest standards ofenvironmental protection in trade, compliance/enforcement oftrade agreements- A new push for European democracy: A greater say for
Europeans, more transparency
11A possible toxic-free hierarchy
A new hierarchy in chemicals
management

12

Towards a Chemicals Strategy for
Sustainability
Simplification
Stronger protection

Innovation
Knowledge and science
Global• To be published in autumn 2020
• On going development
13

Examples of potential actions for
simplification & coherence of thechemical legislation:• In depth assessment of the REACH authorisation system:
keep it, change it, remove it?
• One substance/one assessment: how to use better theEU’s agencies and scientific bodies• Extend the use of generic risk management: fast-track
restriction based on a high concern (e.g., carcinogenicity)and obvious exposure (cosmetics)• Ensure transparency, predictability and consistency of risk
management decision (e.g., see Public activities
coordination tool: https://echa.europa.eu/pact)

14

Examples of potential actions for astronger protection• Address the ‘cocktail effect’ from chemicals consistently
across legislation (e.g., use Mixture assessment factor).
• Strengthen protection of vulnerable groups.
• Registration of polymers of concern under REACH =>criteria under development > final study published.
• Strengthen data requirements under REACH.
• Strategy action on PFAS: European Member States CALLS
on the Commission to develop an action plan to eliminate
all non-essential uses of PFAS. => restriction mainly basedon the persistency and mobility of PFAS => contaminationof natural resources, remediation costs.

15

Examples of potential actions for asafe and sustainable innovation• Promote Sustainable Chemistry with safety-by-design at its
core to drive innovation and provide financial incentives tosafe and sustainable alternatives under the EU Research &Innovation programmes.
• Developed EU Sustainable Chemistry criteria in line andcomplementing the Taxonomy on sustainable finance.
• Strengthening the chemicals, products, waste interface andthe synergies with the Circular Economy by ensuring nontoxic material cycles via chemicals legislation.
• Promoting toxicology and sustainable chemistry inuniversity programmes.
16

Examples of potential actions forcomprehensive and transparent
knowledge base• EU-wide human and environmental bio-monitoring
research programme.
• Develop and implement an EU Early Warning System for
emerging chemical risks=> on-going study.
• Develop a risk communication strategy and promote smart
communication of chemicals safety information (e.g.
through smart labels, Internet of Things, blockchain to
track hazardous substance).

17

Examples of potential actions toincrease chemicals management at
Global level• Explore the possibilities to propose new hazard
class/criteria in the UNGHS level for :• Endocrine Disruptors• Mobile and persistent substances• Terrestrial toxicity• Nominate more substances to the Stockholm (POP) andRotterdam (PIC) Conventions• Provide technical, financial and institutional support to third
countries on the sound management of chemicals, including
to combat the illegal trade of chemical substances.

18

A EUROPEAN STRATEGY FOR PLASTICS IN THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY

1

All plastic packaging reusable or recyclable by 2030
Design for circularity  Essential requirements PPWD, compostability criteria ??

Recycled content: 10 moi tons/2025  Circular Plastics AllianceMicroplastics- Intentionally added to products  ECHA  restriction by 2021 ??
- Unintentional release, e.g. tyres, textiles, pellets, coating
Strategic Research Innovation Agenda for Plastics
Support the development of alternative feedstocks:
lifecycle assessments including biomass  By 2020

Support to bilateral and multilateral initiatives on plastics
2

What’s happening?

New waste legislation (2018)
Plastic Strategy (2018)

Single Use Plastics Directive (2019)
Port Reception Facilities Directive (2019)
Marine Strategy Framework Directive
Basel Convention
3

Sources of microplastics

4Microplastics: legislative and non-legislativework
Cosmetics, detergents, paints,
Oxo plastics
Tyres, Textiles

Plastic pellets

Microplastics in waterOthers
5• Towards general ban through REACH restriction dossier• Single Use Plastics Directive• Testing harmonization (e.g.,Tyre Abrasion )• Labelling, minimum requirements (e.g., release of microfibers from textiles)• Filters for washing machine?
• Study on actions to take and cost and benefits analysis to be launched soon

• Chain certification• Permitting• Best Available Technique• Revision and Evaluation of water legislation• No technology to prevent sludge pollution or to clean sludge => Transfer the problem
to soil => Alternatively sludge needs to be incinerated ≠ circular economy• Research through LIFE, Horizon2020 and Horizon Europe• Biodegradability

The wastewater / sludge problem- Both intentionally added andunintentionally released microplastics
can enter wastewater- Removing microplastics transfers themto sludge- There seems to be no technology thatprevents the pollution of sludge or thatenables the cleaning of sludge- Consequently problem could betransferred to the soil
- Alternatively sludge needs to beincinerated ≠ circular economy

6

Reduction of microplastics in different treatment stages;
Source: ECHA (2019) Proposal on the restriction of intentionally added
microplastics

Biodegradable plastics: some issues• Home-composting  industrial composting  biodegradation=> Lack of clear criteria and correct information to consumers=> Real-life conditions?
• Which standard for the marine environment (temp, oxygen)?
• Waste hierarchy and circular economy:
Reuse > recycle > biodegradation
Keeping the value of (plastic) material in the circular economy

7