The European Commission has signaled the end of the rule that limited marketing of certain chemical products affecting human health, or at least suspended the long-running prohibition on indefinite delays. The announcement came from the College of European Commissioners, via the European Environment Bureau, a coalition of more than 180 environmental groups across Europe. The exclusion of a long-awaited reform of the REACH Regulation from the Commission’s 2024 agenda marks a notable shift. The policy focuses on regulating chemicals and their use by consumers. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has faced criticism for what critics call a serious breach of commitments, according to BEV, which tracks official EU obligations.
According to Tatiana Santos, head of the EEB’s Chemical Products Policy, the move amounts to a real betrayal of citizens. She notes that the Commission is failing to fulfill its promises, turning a blind eye to chemical pollution and exposing Europeans to a range of toxic substances for years. Science has linked these exposures to multiple negative health outcomes. The sentiment is that short-term gains for the toxic industry are placed above the health of Europeans. The future memory of the European Green Deal is seen by some as the European Toxic Deal.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has been at the center of discussions about whether to adjust or curb these reforms, while the decision receiving ongoing commentary questions the pace and direction of changes in chemical regulation.
The decision to delay or drop the reform is seen as a consequence of competing pressures. The proposal to review REACH was originally due by the end of 2022, but industry pressure led to a postponement. It was moved to the spring of 2023, then to late 2023, and ultimately left off the current plan as elections approached. Environmental groups warn that future reform remains uncertain, depending on the next Commission, creating a climate of unpredictability about its fate.
Carlos de Prada, who oversees the Poison-Free Home initiative and collaborates with the EEB to raise awareness about this issue, remarks that many citizens struggle to follow what happens in Brussels’ corridors. While the topics are significant, he argues, the toxins people encounter are not distant—they are present in everyday life. The Commission’s move, he says, does not fully advance the goal of reducing pollution.
The main regulation aimed at safeguarding Europeans from chemical risks is REACH. Environmental groups argue that reform was necessary and urgent because the current rules were too incomplete to curtail widespread contamination. The sentiment is that improvements were essential to curb chemical exposure and protect public health more effectively.
Chemicals harmful to humans
Scientific findings underscore the seriousness of the issue. Initiatives like the European Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU) have reported alarmingly high levels of chemical exposure in substantial portions of the population, with concentrations linked to serious disease risk. Over the last decade, the Commission has identified critical loopholes in REACH and began reflecting on reform within broader sustainability goals for chemical substances in 2020. Citizens are widely exposed to chemicals found in everyday items—from toys and childcare products to food packaging, cosmetics, and furnishings.
There were explicit commitments aimed at banning the most harmful substances from consumer products and accelerating regulatory processes for chemical substances. These processes are often slow, leaving thousands of substances inadequately regulated in circulation. Critics warn of potential harm to many people as a result.
A setback for environmental policy
The shift away from reform has coincided with broader steps to ease environmental rules ahead of next year’s elections. Some European leaders have called for reducing regulatory burdens while defending the Green Deal’s goals. The debate in policy circles reflects a tension between industry concerns and public health protections, with observers questioning whether this trend will persist beyond the electoral cycle.
Policy discussions around regulation pauses and the pace of adjustments have sparked debate among lawmakers and analysts. The incoming dynamics of EU governance will shape whether stricter chemical controls gain momentum again in the near term.
Note: This piece reflects ongoing discourse about EU environmental policy and the status of REACH reform as of the latest public briefings and statements from environmental groups and EU officials.