The European Commission is moving to postpone the review of the crucial chemicals regulation, REACH, to the next Commission. Coupled with the news that it has cancelled the initiative on asbestos screening, this is a major blow to efforts to protect people’s health at work.
The postponement was hinted at by Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius and confirmed by DG GROW in a letter received by ETUC this week. The review was due by 2022. In delaying it until after the current mandate’s end, the Commission has failed to live up to its responsibility.
A comprehensive review of REACH is required, including the urgent need for more extensive information regarding critical hazards, assessing the impacts of exposure to multiple substances, and formulating effective preventive measures. Additionally, the ETUC has proposed devising an ‘essential use’ concept specific to REACH while actively seeking safer alternatives.
The ETUC calls on the European Commission to prioritize the review of REACH and to take legislative action on asbestos screening in buildings. The health and safety of working people should be the top priority of the European Commission.
ETUC Confederal Secretary Giulio Romani said:
“Despite the extensive consultation, the European Commission is not proceeding on this much-needed proposal. Our institutions should be shielding working people from harm, not delaying vital protections following corporate pressure.
"Some of the last acts of the European institutions before the electoral campaign seem to be too complacent towards the interests of businesses, sometimes even to the detriment of primary interests such as health and that we would like to be able to believe that these are just coincidences.
“The failure to review is serious both for the protection of people's health and because it comes after repeated promises which were not followed up on, casting doubt on the credibility of those who did not commit to honouring their word.”
