EU Faces Scrutiny Over Inaction on Chemicals Strategy Commitments

Policy Drift Undermines EU Chemicals Strategy Goals

The CSS, launched in 2020, outlined 85 actions aimed at reducing harmful chemical exposures, boosting innovation, and ensuring a toxic-free environment. However, the EPRS review reveals that core deliverables—including the restriction of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and a ban on exports of hazardous chemicals outlawed in the EU—remain unrealised.

While the Commission has made progress on the CLP Regulation and the Industrial Emissions Directive, major elements such as the REACH Regulation revision have slipped. More worryingly, newly launched initiatives like the Clean Industrial Deal and the Competitiveness Compass are not clearly aligned with the original CSS framework, raising concerns about duplicated efforts and regulatory incoherence.

PFAS, Governance Gaps, and Missed Health Safeguards

PFAS remain central to the chemical safety debate. These persistent substances are found in consumer goods, industrial applications, and the environment, posing long-term health risks including cancer, hormonal disruption, and immune system effects.

The EPRS notes that while a REACH Committee has supported restrictions on PFAS in firefighting foams, the broader “universal restriction” on PFAS is still under evaluation. The limited monitoring and control measures under current industrial emissions regulations also fall short of addressing the full scope of PFAS risks.

Simultaneously, the absence of a ban on exporting EU-prohibited hazardous chemicals—despite public support and Commission commitments—calls into question the EU’s global leadership on chemical safety. The European Parliament has repeatedly demanded action, but no legislative proposal has materialised.

What This Means for Compliance and Industry Strategy

For professionals across the chemicals and manufacturing sectors, the implementation gap poses strategic uncertainty. Compliance planning, investment in safer substitutes, and product development all depend on predictable regulatory trajectories.

The EPRS urges the Commission to refocus on completing outstanding CSS actions, improve coordination among new and existing strategies, and enhance transparency in chemicals governance. Without this, both environmental goals and industrial competitiveness could suffer.